Jesuit’s Shane Lanson named Gatorade boys soccer state player of the year

CHICAGO — In its 33rd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, today announced Shane Lanson of Jesuit High School as its 2017-18 Gatorade Louisiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Lanson is the eighth Gatorade Louisiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Jesuit High School.

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 Lanson as Louisiana’s best high school boys soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in June, Lanson joins an elite alumni association of past state soccer award-winners, including Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Steve Cherundolo (1996-97, Mt. Carmel HS, Calif.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02, 2002-03, East Brunswick HS, N.J.), Matt Besler (2004-04, Blue Valley West HS, Kans.), Jack Harrison (2013-14, Berkshire HS, Mass.), Mallory Pugh (2014-15, Mountain Vista HS, Colo.).

The 6-foot-2, 160-pound senior goalkeeper posted 27 shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.26 this past season, leading the Blue Jays to the Division 1 state championship. Lanson was named state Division I Defensive MVP and was also selected as the All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year.

Lanson has volunteered locally on behalf of a retirement home, a park clean-up initiative and youth soccer programs. “Shane Lanson is one of the top keepers I’ve ever seen come out of the city,” said Jose Ferrand, head coach at Ben Franklin High. “He has great hands, great jumping ability and he really kept that team in games. His command of the box is excellent and he’s a very good communicator.”

Lanson has maintained a 3.15 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at Southern Methodist University this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Lanson joins recent Gatorade Louisiana Boys Soccer Players of the Year Josh Hughes (2016-17, Westminster Christian Academy), Colin Ross (2015-16, St. Paul’s School), Colin Hanley (2014-15, St. Paul’s School), Andrew Malinich (2013-14, Lusher Charter School), Ethan Judice (2012-13, Lafayette High School), Phillip Hicks (2011-12, Jesuit High School), Adrian McInnis (2010–11, Saint Paul’s School), Steven Cabos (2009-10, Jesuit High School), Patrick Mullins (2008–09, Jesuit High School), Nick Flowers (2007-08, Caddo Parish Magnet High School), and Andrew Mullins (2006-07, Jesuit High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Lanson will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.

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