In its 35th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, The Gatorade Company today announced Jony Munoz of Olathe West High School in Olathe, Kan. is the 2019-20 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Munoz won the prestigious award for his accomplishments on and off the field, joining an impressive group of former Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners who have combined for 11 National Championships and 12 became MLS first round draft picks.
Munoz was surprised by his family, coaches and teammates with a drive-by parade outside his home.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Munoz as the nation’s best high school boys soccer player. A national advisory panel comprised of sport-specific experts and sports journalists helped select Munoz from nearly half a million high school boys soccer players nationwide.
Competition for the national award was fierce. Munoz topped the list of 51 state winners in boys soccer who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments, including nine returning Gatorade Players of the Year, 24 First-Time All-State selections and 14 with a GPA of 4.0 or above.
Munoz is now a finalist for the most prestigious award in high school sports, the Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year award, which is announced in July.
—
Photo Credit: Pasko Maksim / Shutterstock.com
