#SDSportsAwards, boys soccer: Marcus Hluchy spreads the knowledge for Aberdeen

The move from Pierre to Aberdeen required soccer standout Marcus Hluchy to trade in Governors green for Golden Eagles blue and gold. That his former school and new school were bitter rivals didn’t make the transition any easier.

But Hluchy quickly found a new family on the field, and by the time the season rolled around a few weeks later and it was time to select team captains, his new teammates gave him the nod.

“Initially he was very quiet, but I think everybody — including myself — we knew what kind of player he was,” said coach Steve Cogley. “We just didn’t know what kind of a great kid he was.”

Hluchy quickly gained insider status, and made himself available to the team’s JV players.

MORE: See other winners of the S.D. Sports Awards

“He would go to those younger players and kind of hang out and visit with them,” Cogley said. “There wasn’t a barrier because he’s an upperclassman, and that’s helped our team.”

Of course, Hluchy did more than foster a strong sense of team — he was the Golden Eagles’ steadying force all season, which started with tenacity on defense.

“He plays in the center of the field a lot, and there are tons of times I can think of where he made that 40-yard sprint back to our defensive third,” Cogley said. “It’s something hard to quantify, but we could definitely see that.” … He’s uniquely talented and gifted technically.”

Hluchy anchored a sophomore-laden group all the way to the state finals before falling to Rapid City. But with a horde of returners — led by Hluchy — the Golden Eagles should be a force once again next season.