Three Booker T. Washington boys soccer stars are headed to the next level.
Kyle Hunnicutt, Tony Lipnicki and Ethan Koivu signed their letters of intent Thursday in a small ceremony at Booker T. Washington High School with teammates, friends and family in attendance.
Hunnicutt will sign with Division I University of South Florida, Lipnicki will attend Division III Orgelthorpe University in Georgia, and Koivu will attend United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama.
“This is the greatest accomplishment in any sport for a high school student,” Booker T head coach Felipe Lawall said. “I often preach to kids that if they want to play college soccer, I'll give them all the tools they need to achieve that goal. They have to work hard to achieve it, but We're going to coach them.'' “It's the right path. … Most of the boys who want to play college soccer find a home where they can be happy and continue their passion for soccer. โ
Booker T. Washington Principal Rick Shackle told the crowd that the Wildcats boys soccer team has always had a “tradition of excellence,” and this year Booker T. will be named PNJ Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. He noted that he won the Outstanding Player and Coach of the Year awards. We have a large selection for all areas as well as yearly selections.
In the 2023-24 season, Booker T. won the District 1-5A Tournament in a scoreless shootout against Arnold, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. The Wildcats earned an automatic berth to the regional tournament and advanced to the regional finals, but ultimately lost 2-0 to Arnold, who won the 5A state championship.
The Wildcats went 14-2 on the season, continuing Booker T's long winning streak dating back to at least the 2013-14 season.
“There's a lot going on in this. It's a direct reflection of you guys,” Shackle told the three players. “When I say you, I also mean the people sitting next to you. Your families and the sacrifices they have made. … We are more proud of you than anyone else. Thank you for representing Booker T the way you did.โ
Hunnicutt, a two-time PNJ Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2023, originally committed to USF in mid-February. In his 64 games as a Wildcat, Hunnicutt finished with an impressive 67 goals and 28 assists.
Hunnicutt previously told PNJ after his commitment that USF has a history of sending players to professional soccer, with 25 players drafted to Major League Soccer teams since 1996.
“I hope to leave a legacy for the generations that come to Washington,” Hunnicutt said after signing the papers Thursday. “I'm excited for the next chapter of my life.”
Ms Hunnicutt, who had her mother and sister by her side, said signing the document was a “huge relief” not only for herself but also for her family.
“The most important people next to me are my sister and my mom. They've been there every step of the way. So they've been next to me,” Hunnicutt said. “I think my mom was more excited than I was when I got off the phone with the USF coaches. … I'm certainly excited.”
“Kyle is a kid who has spent a long time studying hard and spending many hours going everywhere with his mom,” LaWall said. “He's been one of the best players to come out of this area in a long time. The fact that he earned a scholarship to a prestigious Division I program like USF is a great testament to how much he and our region care. I think it speaks volumes about how good the Panhandle is.โ โ
Lipnicki, who was named the 2024 PNJ Defensive Player of the Year, was part of the Wildcats' vaunted Stonewall defense this season. He played in 15 games as a senior and, despite being a defensive player, still scored four times.
The Wildcats conceded just 16 points on the season, averaging one goal per game. That year, they recorded five shutouts, including Arnold's regulation shutout and overtime shutout before penalty kicks were taken in the district championship.
Ogelthorpe, just north of Atlanta, participates in the Southern Athletic Association. Last year, the Stormy Petrals posted a 14-3-2 record, defeating Rhodes University to win the conference championship, but ultimately losing to the University of Colorado, ranked No. 16 in the NCAA region.
Lipnicki also noted that Orgelthorpe was academically qualified and that he and his family wanted him to focus.
“(Orgelthorpe) was the first one to reach out to me. It means a lot to a player when he feels like he's needed. The coaching there is phenomenal,” Lipnicki said. . “It's a great community. I wanted a small school with great instruction, so it was a perfect fit for me.”
“Orgelthorpe is a great academic school and has a great track record at the Division III level. This is a perfect fit for Tony and everything he was looking for. I think he will be very successful,” Law said. Wall said. “Sometimes you focus on a school or a division. You have to find the right fit for you. A soccer program that you can play in and a school that fits your academic needs. For Tony, Orgelthorpe I couldnโt have asked for a better school.โ
Another role on that great defense was goaltender Koivu, who competed for Booker T in his junior and senior seasons. Once the papers were officially signed, Koivu's father went to Lawall to thank him for accepting his family into the Booker T. Washington Football Bonds.
Koivu appeared in 32 games over two years and allowed just 28 goals. He stopped a total of 159 shots.
USSA's soccer program is fairly new, as is the school's first intercollegiate sports program. The men's soccer team was launched in 2023 under the direction of head coach Peter Fuller, one of the winningest coaches in NAIA soccer history. He won two national championships and was an assistant coach in MLS for a time.
“I just want to be a part of something that's going to be good in the future. I want to be a part of that foundation. That's what the coaches are talking about, building the foundation to turn into something good. โ Koivu said. โBeing part of that history will mean more than just short-term success.โ
โEthan is going to do great things over there,โ LaWall said.
Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at X (@BenGriecoSports) or by email at BGrieco@gannett.com.