Bee’s Best: Meet The Sacramento Bee’s boys’ soccer All-Metro team and MVP
Arjin Claire scored 37 goals in 18 games for Sacramento Country Day’s boys’ soccer team. But it was one goal in particular, the last he scored in organized soccer, that netted him The Bee’s MVP award.
With time waning last October against Cristo Way in the Sac-Joaquin Section championship game, Claire lined up for a free kick about 25 yards from the net. He hammered it just over the wall and just under the crossbar. The goalkeeper was a little slow to react and just like that Sacramento Country Day had a 2-1 win.
“He ripped it over the wall much like Ronaldo would do,” coach Matt Vardo said. “It was the goal of a lifetime.”
It was also likely the last goal of Claire’s organized soccer career. While Claire romped through Division VII competition, racking up nine assists in addition to all his goals to finish tops in the section and sixth in the state for points, he chose academics over athletics in college. Vardo said Claire could start all four years at a Division II or III university, or wait a few years to play for a Division I program. But with early admission to Stanford, Claire said the choice was easy.
“I don’t think I’m going pro in soccer,” he said. “In college, instead of focusing on playing, I’m better off focusing on my education and getting good grades.”
He leaves behind an impressive high school career. Though he played midfield in club soccer, he was converted to a forward because that’s what Sacramento Country Day needed. The move was an instant success. Claire scored 10 goals in 10 games during his freshman year. His 37 goals in the fall – Division VII schools play in September and October – helped Claire earn a fan MVP vote after the winter soccer season. Fan votes do not have an influence on the Bee’s MVP selections.
Claire earned this honor on his own. Top schools in higher divisions likely could have lost a player or two and they still would have advanced into the playoffs; Sacramento Country Day deeply relied on Claire, who scored more than half his team’s 72 goals.
High school soccer was a release from his day-to-day work on club soccer teams in the Sacramento area.
“I loved playing because I love playing the game, in general, and high school is a way to play with my friends,” Claire said. “One of the reasons I played so well was because I was having so much fun.”
Asked to name off some of those friends, Claire ticks off names like clockwork: Ethan Monasa, Arjit Trivedi, Miles Morrow, Malek Owaidat and John Fan, among others. He couldn’t have done it without his friends.
That defines his spring season, too. The tennis team needed some help at a recent meet, so Claire went out and played for his school.
Oh, and the baseball team needed some help, too.
“Now he’s the shortstop on our baseball team and I’m not sure he’s ever played baseball before, but he’s out there with his friends,” Vargo said.
Whitney’s Joel Williams wins coach of the year
While Claire was at one of the smallest schools in the area, one of the largest schools had the most impressive season in recent history. Whitney rolled to a 21-2-2 record en route to a Northern California regional title and a Sac-Joaquin Section title. For his effort, coach Joel Williams is The Bee’s coach of the year.
“I am just honored to be able to do what I love for the past 24 years,” he said. “I’ve had great coaches to work with and fantastic players who are even better people. While I truly appreciate it, it’s more of a recognition of the great people that make up our program which I get to be a part of.”
Whitney finished the season ranked sixth in the country and No. 2 in California.
That program figures to continue being a power next season, Williams said. The Wildcats graduated a bunch of talent but return nine players who had significant minutes this season, including one first-team All-Sierra Foothill League player and two second-teamers.
“While we may not replicate what we did this year, we’ll be strong for the next several years to come and hopefully compete for more titles along the way,” Williams said. “Just a great group of young men (and families) up and down the program.”
Sacramento Bee All-Metro Boys’ Soccer team
Arjin Claire, Sacramento Country Day
Jeremy Siau, Granite Bay
Zach Anderson, Davis
Max Haslemann, Folsom
Quinn Mahoney, Rio Americano
Andrew Collins, Rio Americano
Kaleb Afsari, Jesuit
Jake Goehring, Del Oro
Brayden Goularte, Whitney
Sean Battistessa, Bella Vista
Bryce Pando, Vista Del Lago
Michael Gray, Pioneer
Sergio Duarte Jr., Liberty Ranch
Nick Strangio, Jesuit
Lucas Bost, Del Oro
Diego Angelina De La Cruz, Granite Bay
Christian Garcia, Woodland Christian
Robbie Mora, Whitney
Hector Serrano Martin, Whitney
Keith Wiley, Del Oro
J.B. Diei, Oak Ridge
Kai Peris, Davis
Andrew Vanden Akker, Whitney
Alejandro Rojas, Jesuit