Evan Schmitz tried all the sports when he was young.

Football, baseball, basketball, track.

He gave them all a whirl, but none of them really captured his imagination until he found soccer.

Coach of the Year: Ida's Tim Allen named Region Boys Soccer Coach of the Year

“I was 7 or 8 years old,” he said. “I basically tried all the sports, but soccer was the one that stuck with me. I liked it the most. I just liked the way it was played and how fast the ball was moving.”

The problem was that when Schmitz was that age, Ida didn’t have a soccer team.

The squad debuted just a year or two before he started high school.

It was perfect timing.

Schmitz wound up becoming the face of the new team, racking up 109 goals and 45 assists over four seasons. He capped his outstanding career this fall with 36 goals and 18 assists to earn Monroe County Region Boys Soccer Player of the Year honors in voting by The Monroe News sports department.

Schmitz’s attraction to the game is simple.

“It’s just fun to get out on the field and play soccer,” he said.

The was evident every time Schmitz suited up for Ida.

“His work ethic, character and leadership are great,” Ida coach Tim Allen said. “You don’t find him complaining a lot. … He’s content to play wherever you put him.

“Last year he was the center half most of the time because that’s where we needed him. He is very task-oriented. He will do whatever needs to be done. There are games where he’s gone back to play defense because that’s what we needed.”

Allen noted that Schmitz drew “three or four” penalty kicks during the season, but always insisted that a teammate take them.

“He probably could have had 50 goals if he wanted to, but he always wants to give other kids a chance,” the coach said. “He doesn’t demand all of the attention.”

Glory is not high on list of reasons that draws Schmitz to the soccer field.

“It’s fun to play with my friends,” he said. “I am glad they finally started a team at the high school.”

Schmitz loves all the little intricacies of the game.

“I just really want to help my team out,” he said. “I don’t need to score.”

But score he did.

One of his career highlights came this season against Hillsdale when he netted his 100th career goal.

“That was definitely a big thing,” he said. “It was a career goal. I had been counting down, but I didn’t realize I was that close. At halftime we all celebrated as a team together.”

What made Schmitz so successful in soccer?

“I feel like my strength is pretty good,” he said. “I shoot the ball good and my dribbling is good, too.”

He tried to improve his passing this season.

“My long passes were not where they needed to be,” he said. “I needed to hit them further and more accurately.”

The son of Carol and Kevin Schmitz of Ida doesn’t plan to play soccer next year.

“I want to try for an apprenticeship,” he said. “I want to be a lineman. A lot of my family does it. I don’t want to go to college.”

All-Region boys soccer team

AUSTIN DUNN

Monroe, junior

His tenacious ball skills were vital for Monroe and he logged 3 goals and 5 assists. "Highly skilled ball player who operates best as a defensive midfielder," Monroe coach Ian Cooke said. "Tenacious, box-to-box ball winner who covers acres of space in every game."

CARTER HIGGINS

Milan, junior

Racked up 30 goals and 16 assists. "He was tremendous for us in getting goals and also his personal growth has been amazing to watch," Milan coach Victor Plasse said. "We couldn’t have the success we did if it wasn’t for his ability to purely understand the game."

DUSTIN HOLYCROSS

Ida, senior

The four-year varsity player had 12 assists as a center fullback to help Ida tie the school record with 16 wins this season. "Dustin controlled our back line defense," Ida coach Tim Allen said. “He was there to help. If anyone made a bad play on the ball, he was there to clean it up."

LUIS JASSO

Carlson, junior

Was always dangerous in the offensive end for the Marauders, finishing the season with 23 goals and 10 assists in 22 games. "A great talent," St. Mary Catholic Central coach Nathan Olson said. "Requires you to match up against him."

HOLDEN KENNEDY

SMCC, junior

Started the season in a defensive position, but moved up front and logged 13 goals and 12 assists. "Holden was the change that we needed," SMCC coach Nathan Olson said. "We went from tying and losing the majority of our games to winning and competing."

BRADY McBRIDE

Flat Rock, freshman

Made a great varsity debut with 14 goals and 7 assists, earning a spot on the All-Huron League First Team. "Brady showed a lot of skill in a tough Huron League," Flat Rock coach Sean Sturgeon said. "Went 10-of-11 from the penalty spot this year, showing he can make them when they count."

DAVID McCHESNEY

Milan, senior

A top offensive option for the Big Reds with 15 goals and 10 assists. "David was on a mission to be the best version himself this season," Milan coach Victor Plasse said. "Throughout the season, his amazing display of attitude and dedication in the midfield for Milan was wonderful."

BRANDON McCOMAS

Airport, senior

Netted four game-winning goals among his total of 18. "Brandon is a coach’s dream to have," Airport coach Goran Cepo said. "Hard-working kid whose motor never stopped. This was his first year playing forward and he just got better and better each game."

CARSON OBERSKI

Bedford, senior

A two-year captain and four-year varsity player for the Mules who racked up 12 goals and 4 assists. "A strong frontrunner with excellent close control," Monroe coach Ian Cooke said. "Subduing the threat he posed was always a priority when we played them."

KYLER OSTROWSKI

Carlson, junior

Was a consistent scorer with 18 goals and 19 assists in 20 games. "Kyler was of utmost value to the team’s offense as he took on the role of center midfield," Carlson coach Mario Parody said. "He was the main focus of opposing teams when on the field."

DREW SLANE

Huron, senior

Keyed a Huron defense that logged eight shutouts in a 17-game season and scored 3 goals. "Drew was our No. 1 guy and a machine on the field," Huron coach Matt Lividini said. "He was skilled and knowledgeable and orchestrated the defensive third."

TALEN SWINKEY

Monroe, junior

Improved to 22 goals and 15 assists is his career after garnering 8 goals and 7 assists this season. "Experienced, elite player who combines a high level of skill with an exceptional soccer IQ," Monroe coach Ian Cooke said. "On his best days, he can lift the performance of the whole team."

ANDY TRASTER

Huron, junior

Led Huron offensively with 9 goals and 6 assists. "He controlled the forward line as a true target player and would never stop working," Huron coach Matt Lividini said. "Looking forward to Andy returning for one more year.”

LEO WAGENHAUSER

Bedford, senior

Finished the season with 6 goals and 5 assists. "Leo held together our midfield," Bedford coach Mitch Cousino said. "Leo is a box-to-box player. Leo took on defending the powerhouse programs of the SEC’s best offensive players."

TRENT ZACHEL

SMCC, junior

Recorded 6 shutouts while averaging 2.0 goals against and made 158 saves. "Trent was one of the best keepers in the league if not the state this year," SMCC coach Nathan Olson said. "Everything that seemed to come near him was swallowed up. He kept us in a lot of games."

SPECIAL MENTION

Players: Parker Beard, Milan; Nick Braden, Monroe; Anthony Carvalho, Milan; Manuel Diaz, Monroe; Eli Dyer, State Line; Skyyler Gonzalez. Airport; Chaz Harrington, SMCC; Seth Hendrick, SMCC; Carter Hoffman, SMCC; Dillion Holycross, Ida; Brady Jaskula, Carlson; Eastin Kegley, Jefferson; Logan Janes, Monroe; Adam Johnson, Milan; Trevin Johnson, State Line; Aiden Malec, Carlson; . Nolan Matley, Milan; Jaiden Nason, Airport; Brian Palmer, Monroe; Caleb Parson, Bedford; Daniel Presa, Monroe; Jackson Raasch, Milan; Nolan Sanders, Airport; Will Shafer, SMCC; Mitchell Smith, Flat Rock; Jonah Stempien, Milan; Gavin Tomecek, Milan; Tyler Toth, Huron; Ben Winter, Jefferson.

Coaches: Matt Lividini, Huron; Nathan Olson, SMCC; Mario Parody, Carlson; Victor Plasse, Milan; Andy Yglesias, State Line.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Ida's Evan Schmitz leads All-Region Boys Soccer Team