HAYS, Kan. -- Ouachita freshman midfielder Andrew Castellanos was named to the All-Great American Conference First Team, the league announced Wednesday, headlining four Tigers who earned all-conference honors.
Castellanos emerged as one of the league's most dynamic playmakers in his debut season and led Ouachita with four assists and six points. The freshman orchestrated attacks with creativity and precision from the midfield and his playmaking was especially influential during a pivotal late-season stretch. Castellanos slipped assists in matches against No. 14 Rogers State, Dallas Christian, and Newman, all games in which the Tigers went unbeaten.
Whether it was threading passes through tight spaces or sparking counterattacks, Castellanos powered Ouachita's late-season surge as the Tigers won four of their last five matches. His assists often came in clutch moments, such as the perfectly placed ball to Nathan Buwemi to open the scoring against the No. 14 Hillcats, or the through pass that set up Luke Grigsby's winner against Dallas Christian on Senior Day.
"Andy was our engine in the middle of the park all year long," Ouachita head coach Wes Holifield said. "He covered so much ground for us defensively, but when in possession, he had so much composure on the ball for such a young player.
In one of the season's most memorable moments, Castellanos ignited a counterattack that lasted just 13 seconds and sent a through pass that set up Philip Bölk's first career goal in a 1-0 victory over Newman. Perhaps the jubilant sideline celebration that captured the team's growth and chemistry was just as memorable as the play itself.
"His creativity and ability to create chances for himself and his teammates was crucial to our success in the last few weeks of the season," Coach Holifield said. "It's only the start. He's got an incredible future in front of him."
Three additional Tigers were named to the All-GAC/MIAA Honorable Mention Team, including sophomore defender Xavier O'Dwyer, senior midfielder Alexis Murillo, and senior goalkeeper Dillon Staal. O'Dwyer anchored the back line with consistent defensive leadership, Murillo brought composure and veteran poise in midfield, and Staal closed his collegiate career with three straight shutouts and earned the final weekly honor to cap a remarkable final stretch between the posts.
Eight Tigers were named to the GAC/MIAA Academic Honor Roll, including Kristian Baker, Alfonso Gonzalez Gomez, Jack Langford, Isaac Murie, Xavier O'Dwyer, Hunter Reck, Jacoby Welsh, and Tavin Wright. Together, the pack of all-conference selections reflected the foundation set by a senior tandem to start the rise of a Ouachita men's soccer program that finished the season on a three-game win streak.
