The Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC teamed up to support the 63rd annual Oregon Sports Awards hosted this past Thursday, June 11.
Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell and Thorns FC defender Kendall Johnson presented Prep Soccer Player of the Year awards to Tualatin’s Ariana Pumpelly (female) and Hood River Valley’s Gio Magaña (male). Pumpelly and Magaña will also be recognized for their achievements during a special pre-game ceremony at the Timbers match against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, June 20 at Providence Park.
Pumpelly, The Oregonian’s class 6A and Three Rivers League Player of the Year, led the Timberwolves to their second consecutive State Championship, anchoring a back line that gave up only one goal in the playoffs. The senior First Team All-State selection will continue her soccer career at Gonzaga University.
Magaña, the Columbia River Conference and Class 5A Player of the Year, accounted for 16 goals and 13 assists during Hood River Valley’s regular season and played a pivotal role in the Eagles’ second consecutive 5A State Championship. Selected First Team All-State as a sophomore and a junior, The Oregonian named Magena Oregon’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year across all leagues and classifications.
Other finalists included Sarah Connelly (Valley Catholic) and Lucy Davidson (Scappoose) for the female award; and Dagoberto Diaz (Woodburn) and Brennan Weber (Central Catholic) for the male award.
The Timbers and Thorns have long standing ties with the OSA dating back to 1975 when former Timbers Head Coach Vic Crowe was named Sportsperson of the Year. Merritt Paulson, Timbers and Thorns FC owner, received the same award in 2011 and Thorns forward Christine Sinclair is a 2-time recipient, winning both the Professional Athlete of the Year award in 2006 and the Amateur Athlete of the Year award in 2005. Timbers head coach Caleb Porter was also recognized as the Sportsperson of the Year in 2013.
About the Oregon Sports Awards
Originally the Hayward Banquet of Champions, the Oregon Sports Awards began in 1948 to honor Oregon’s outstanding professional and amateur athletes, teams, coaches and administrators from many levels and a wide range of sports. Today, the Oregon Sports Awards are held at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
For more information, visit: www.oregonsportsawards.com
