By James Joseph
WSL Senior Features Writer

Trevor Ecton was Olathe’s go-to attackman during the 2009 season for a variety of reasons.

He is technically sound, fast, a good dodger and a “very talented shooter,” according to his coach, Joel Henning. But more than anything else, Ecton simply knows where to be on the field to put himself in a position to score.

“He always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and he always makes the right decision,” Henning said. “Whether we’re running motion or man-up, he understands the ‘make space, take space’ mentality.”

Being in the right spots – combined with his deadly shot – made Ecton the most dangerous offensive player in Kansas, as his stats attest. He buried 96 of the 211 shots he took and had 31 assists for a state-high 127 points in leading Olathe to a 20-1 record and its first state title.

Ecton also managed to scoop up 63 ground balls, which highlights the intensity he brought to the field.

“His level of play elevated our team’s level of play,” Henning said.

And not just in games. Ecton, Henning said, “took the play like you practice mentality to heart,” and organized player-only workouts in the offseason.

He’ll be doing it again this year. Ecton – to the dismay of opposing coaches in Kansas – was just a junior during the 2009 season. So he’ll have a chance to lead Olathe to a repeat.

“He’s very passionate about the game, and it’s contagious,” Henning said. “That’s been a very big factor for us."