Aptos senior Nami Banks was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 boys soccer season. According to statistics on the Monterey Bay Preps website, the Mariners’ team captain finished with 13 goals and six assists in his fourth campaign on the varsity team.
Banks helped lead Aptos to a 9-1 record in league play en route to back-to-back SCCAL titles, and third championship run in the past four years.
“Being a center defensive midfielder is a tough job,” Aptos head coach Roberto Zuñiga said in a text message. “Nami relied on his quick reaction to situations on the pitch, which allowed him to make the best decisions possible to create offensive plays.”
Zuñiga added that Banks’ grit, motivation and resilience in close games allowed him to keep his composure.
“As a team captain, Nami’s ability to play box-to-box was second to none,” Zuñiga said. “He worked for 80 minutes each game tirelessly to get the win.”
Zuñiga, who wrapped up his 18th season with the program, was named this season’s SCCAL Coach of the Year by his peers within the league. It’s his fifth time receiving the award.
“I’m grateful to have such a dedicated coaching staff by my side, and the support through the years of a very rewarding winter season with boys soccer,” Zuñiga said.
Harbor senior Alex Aparicio was selected as this season’s Offensive Player of the Year, and Santa Cruz junior Cutler Bausher was named the Defensive Player of the Year. San Lorenzo Valley senior Keenan Buntz was chosen as the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
San Lorenzo Valley senior Even Hiatt and Scotts Valley senior Lukas Bloom each earned All-SCCAL First Team honors. Hiatt had three goals and one assist, while Bloom finished with two goals this season.
Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League all-league boys soccer teams
Most Valuable Player: Nami Banks (Sr.), Aptos
Offensive Player of the Year: Alex Aparicio (Sr.), Harbor
Defensive Player of the Year: Cutler Bausher (Jr.), Santa Cruz
Goalkeeper of the Year: Keenan Buntz (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Coach of the Year: Roberto Zuñiga, Aptos
First Team
Noah Curran (Sr.), Aptos
Damian Garcia (So.), Aptos
Love Granstrom (Sr.), Aptos
Daniel Lozano (Jr.), Aptos
Brandon Jimenez (Sr.), Harbor
Cesar Onesto (Sr.), Harbor
Mateo Ortega (So.), Harbor
Evan Hiatt (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Evan Richter (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Lukas Bloom (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Andrew Bucio (Sr.), Soquel
Second Team
Benjamin Marciel (So.), Aptos
David Sebastian Killpatrick (Jr.), Aptos
Haziel Parra (So.), Aptos
Ivan Zavala (Jr.), Aptos
Danny Garcia (Jr.), Harbor
Damian Escalante (Sr.), Harbor
Ethan Smith (Jr.), Harbor
Asher Schwarzback (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Stefan Ciesiolkiewicz (Jr.), Santa Cruz
Miles Buehrig (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Jack Leiva (Sr.), Soquel
Honorable Mention
Alex Casillas (So.), Aptos
Josiah Siqueiros (Jr.), Aptos
Nicolas Topete (Jr.), Aptos
Javi Calles (Sr.), Harbor
Diego Cortes (Sr.), Harbor
Sai Nguyen (So.), Harbor
Owen Carrington (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Jimmy King (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Colton Ryssemus (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Luca Berrios (So.), Santa Cruz
Desmond Boutelle (Jr.), Santa Cruz
Rodolfo Cardona (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Jacob Berman (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Elliot Smith (Fr.), Scotts Valley
Evan Wong (Jr.), Scotts Valley
David Moya (Sr.), Soquel
Antonio Plaza (Sr.), Soquel
Logan Walters (Sr.), Soquel
