Mabika selected for Gatorade player of the year
HC senior Aimé Mabika has recently been named the 2015/16 Gatorade Kentucky Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year. As a central player in HC soccer’s success this season with a record of 22-3-1, Mabika has won multiple accolades along the way.
The Gatorade Player of the Year award honors the top high school student-athletes in various varsity sports for their academic achievement, athletic excellence, and exemplary character.
“It’s definitely humbling to see all your hard work pays off,” Mabika said. “I also have to give a lot of credit to all the coaches and players on the team for putting me in this spot.”
Aimé has a lot of memorable moments from this past season, in which he believes the team could’ve won state.
“Definitely going on a twenty game winning streak with the team, as well as defeating Bowling Green, the #1 ranked team in state in the semifinals.”
He led the team to both the regional and district championships (for the 6th straight season) this year as well as a spot in the KHSAA state championship game.
“His size, which is unheard of, and also his skill level and vision is top notch,”HC Soccer head coach Tim Bernardi said. “This helped him win the award.”
When asked about what attributed to his success and his nomination for this Mabika responded with advice.
“The most important thing is staying patient as you go through your soccer career and working hard towards improving every day, every game and every season.”
Mabika, a native of Zambia, moved to the United States when he was seven years old. A long with his soccer career, he has maintained an impressive 4.08 weighted GPA and performs community-service through his church.
Along with this award, Mabika has won several other accolades this season including the Kentucky Soccer Coaches Association’s Defensive Player of the Year. Perhaps this award was due to directing the HC defense to an impressive 14 shutouts this season.
As well as winning the Gatorade POY award, Mabika was also an All-American selection by the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America).
Mabika, along with fellow Blue Devil Collin Rose, committed on Spring signing day to play soccer for the University of Kentucky, for the 2016 season.