Glenelg senior midfielder Nick Mirecki changed his approach entering his senior season. His mentality was simple: “Relax and play confidently.”

The shift was prompted by conversations with his parents after they observed him overthinking at times on the pitch. His new mindset paid dividends as Mirecki finished second on the team in goals (10) and added two assists.

He was a key factor in the Gladiators’ 11-game winning streak to begin the season and run to the Howard County championship game. For his consistency, Mirecki was selected as the 2024 Howard County Times boys soccer Player of the Year.

“This year for me, the biggest thing for Nick was I felt he was just everywhere all at once, without overdoing anything,” Glenelg coach Joey Osborne said. “He just seemed to move around the field effortlessly. But anytime something needed to happen, a tackle, a change of play, winning the ball in the air, he just seemed to be in the right spot at the right time, most of, if not all the time.”

That playing freedom also bred a heightened confidence, which he described as “feeling safe in my game.” The watershed moment came over the summer where Mirecki’s club team made it to the finals at President’s Cup Nationals. Throughout that tournament, Mirecki felt his belief continue to elevate, which extended into the high school season.

Osborne quickly recognized in summer league that Mirecki had taken a major step forward. While Mirecki’s became surer of himself as a player, he also believed in those around him. His conviction in his teammate’s abilities also helped improve his own play.

“It’s just so nice because I know that I won’t have to do too much,” Mirecki said. “My teammates will be there for me. I can rely on them, and I know where they’ll be. It just frees me up to do what I do.”

Mirecki developed a consistent pregame routine to get into the right frame of mind. He would watch the junior varsity games with teammates, sharing light-hearted laughs and conversations to stay loose.

Although Mirecki is quieter by nature, his presence on the pitch spoke volumes. An indication of a great player, Mirecki’s impact on the game was almost more noticeable when he was off the pitch.

Osborne witnessed that time and time again, including in a late season Summit Division battle against Reservoir. Glenelg needed a spark, so Osborne reinserted Mirecki back into the game. Soon after, he got the ball, made a run and played a perfect cross into the middle of the box for a goal.

“The growth that he had from last year to this year playing in the middle of the field, really allowed us to do a lot of things that we were able to do well as a team,” Osborne said. “I think you don’t necessarily notice it until there were times in games where he wasn’t in due to substitution or injury. You’d be like, ‘Why aren’t we getting to some of these balls that we had been getting to?’ And it was Nick not being out there.”

The senior showed that proclivity to step up in a marquee regular season matchup against Class 3A state champion River Hill. A hard-fought battle, both teams entered double overtime deadlocked at 1. Then, Mirecki delivered a signature moment. He took a pass from Jackson Costell, faked one way and cut back the other. Leaving his defender behind, he rifled the game-winning goal into the bottom right corner.

His favorite memory of the season, Mirecki concluded his Gladiators career with his best season yet. “I’m most proud of being out there and giving 100% effort every day,” Mirecki said. “What’s most memorable is just being out there with my teammates, because they’re my friends and family. It was just great to be out there with them every day.”

All-County first team

Mamdouh Babkir, Marriotts Ridge, senior, forward: Babkir was one of Howard County’s most prolific scorers, leading the Mustangs with 11 goals, including several-game winners. He also added three assists.

Jayden Ortiz–Rivera, Wilde Lake, junior, forward: Ortiz-Rivera scored a team-leading 12 goals for the Howard County champion Wildecats, which ranked second in Howard County, and also had an assist.

Tito Tokunboh-Salako, Glenelg, senior, forward: Tokunboh-Salako was the Gladiators’ points leader with 29 (13 goals, three assists). His 13 goals led Howard County. He was a vital player on corners and set pieces.

Remy Valiente, Howard, senior, forward: Valiente’s speed made him a top offensive threat for the Lions. He finished with seven goals and two assists.

Charlie Gerber, River Hill, senior, midfield: An Oberlin College commit, Gerber was a workhorse for the state champion Hawks in the midfield. He scored three goals, also second on the team with seven assists.

Alan Gutierez, Reservoir, senior, midfield: A three-year varsity player, Gutierez switched positions this season. He consistently stepped up in big moments as four of his five goals were equalizers.

Jack McCarthy, Glenelg, senior, midfield: McCarthy showed his versatility by playing multiple positions. He was third on the team in goals (nine) and tied for the team lead in assists with four.

Gabriel Montenegro, Marriotts Ridge, senior, midfield: Montenegro showed his diverse skillset as a goal scorer and facilitator for the Mustangs, with three goals and a team-high five assists.

Aryeh Murphy, Wilde Lake, senior, midfield: Murphy functioned as a two-way midfielder for the experienced Wildecats midfield and finished with one assist.

Ashton Bui, Howard, senior, defense: Transitioning to center back this season, Bui was the anchor of Howard’s backline. The Lions conceded just four goals in Howard County play with Bui on the field.

Drew Hollida, Wilde Lake, senior, defense: One of two team captains, Hollida was an important part of Wilde Lake’s resurgence. He anchored the backline and finished with three goals and an assist.

Mason Leitzel, Glenelg, senior, defense: From his center back position, Leitzel led a defensive unit that surrendered just 12 goals during the regular season.

Justin Wu, Marriotts Ridge, senior, defense: Second team All-County as a junior, Wu once again anchored the Mustangs’ backline, limiting scoring opportunities.

Jonathan Sanchez, Mt. Hebron, senior, goalie: Sanchez spent a bulk of his time in goal but played midfield as well to give the offense a spark. Sanchez saved his best performances for the postseason, including stopping a potential game-winning penalty kick in overtime of the state semifinals against South River.

All-County second team

Noah Authors, Howard, senior, goalie

Vishnu Almli, Glenelg, junior, defense

Jackson Costell, Glenelg, senior, midfield

Evan Figueroa, Wilde Lake, senior, midfield

Jake Hammond, Marriotts Ridge, sophomore, midfield

Will Kettering, Mt. Hebron, senior, defense

Eben Koffi, Howard, junior, defense

Luke Martinez, River Hill, junior, defense

Noah Martin, Reservoir, senior, defense

Rishabh Nambiar, Howard, junior, midfield

Luke Penn, Howard, senior, forward

Ian Radtke, Centennial, junior, forward

Ronaldo Reid, Oakland Mills, senior, midfield

Drew Richman, Atholton, senior, goalie

Nick Wagner, Marriotts Ridge, senior, midfield

Drew Wilschke, Centennial, junior, forward

Allan Ying, River Hill, senior, forward

Final Season Standings

Summit Division: 1. Wilde Lake (10-4-1, 4-0-1, Howard County Champion); 2. Howard (9-2-2, 3-1-1); 3. River Hill (15-4, 3-2, Class 3A State Champion); 4. Centennial (10-4-2, 2-1-2, 2A State Quarterfinalist); 5. Long Reach (5-8-1, 1-4, 3A South Region II finalist); 6. Atholton (5-8-1, 0-5).

Sierra Division: 1. Glenelg (12-2-1, 5-0 Summit Division, Howard County Runner-Up, 2A West Region I finalist); 2. Marriotts Ridge (9-5-1, 4-1 Summit Division, 3A South Region I finalist); 3. Reservoir (6-5-1, 4-1 Summit Division); 4. Mt. Hebron (10-7, 2-3 Summit Division, 3A State Runner-up); 5. Hammond (2-11, 2-4); 6. Guilford Park (1-12, 1-5); 7. Oakland Mills (0-13, 0-6).

MIAA B Conference Glenelg Country (4-8, 3-7); MIAA C Conference Chapelgate Christian (3-16, 1-7).