Platte County seniors AJ Schrick and Gavin Nichols were both named to the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association (MHSSCA) Class 3 all-state teams after standout season on offense. Schrick made the first team as a midfielder, while Nichols earned a second-team spot as a forward.
Both players were first-time honorees.
A four-year contributor and two-year starter, Schrick led Platte County with 15 assists while also netting four goals as the attacking midfield engine for an offense that produced nearly three goals per game. The Pirates scored three or more goals in 10 of 20 games and were shut out just three times.
Nichols finished as Platte County’s leading goalscorer for a second time in three years, totaling 21 in his senior season to go with nine assists. Also a four-year contributor, he started the past three seasons and also led the Pirates in goals as a sophomore before finishing second to all-state forward Aaron Cordova as a junior.
Platte County (15-5) finished ranked No. 5 in the MHSSCA Class 3 power rankings based on record and strength of schedule. The Pirates’ season ended with a 5-0 loss in the Class 3 District 8 title game to Kansas City East, which went on to capture the program’s first state championship for any sport in nearly a century.
After a 3-3 start, Platte County won 12 of the next 13 and ended up one win short of the program’s first playoff appearance since 2019 when they went on to finish second at state in Class 3 to close out the best season in team history. The Pirates lost to Smithville (2020) and Guadalupe Centers (2021) in district title games before being knocked out in the 2022 Class 3 District 8 semifinal against Pembroke Hill.
Platte County’s senior class, which also included forward Josh Nelson (16 goals and four assists), went 62-20 over the past four years and won at least 15 games in each season except for the COVID shortened 2020 fall.
PLATTE COUNTY POSTSEASON HONORS
Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association
Class 4 All-State
First Team
MF — AJ Schrick, Sr.
Second Team
F — Gavin Nichols, Sr.
All-Class 3 Region 4
F — Gavin Nichols, Sr.; MF — AJ Schrick, Sr.; D — Fabian Risager, Sr.
All-Class 3 District 8
First Team
F — Gavin Nichols, Sr.; MF — AJ Schrick, Sr.; D — Fabian Risager, Sr.
Second Team
F — Josh Nelson, Sr.; MF — Connor Currence, Sr.; D — Jackson Goodale, So.; GK — Paul Havemeier, Jr.
All-Suburban Conference White Division
First Team
F — Gavin Nichols, Sr.; MF — AJ Schrick, Sr.; D — Fabian Risager, Sr.; GK — Paul Havemeier, Jr.
Second Team
F — Josh Nelson, Sr.; MF — Connor Currence, Sr.; D — Jackson Goodale, So.
Honorable Mention
D — Daniel Bunge, Sr.; MF — Cameron Habel, So.; Julian Nemeth, Sr.
