First Presbyterian Christian Academy’s boys’ and girls’ soccer teams swept the nominations and awards for the Georgia Independent School Association Class AA All-Region and All-State teams.
The recognition and honors came a week after the Lady ’Landers won the Class AA state title and the Highlanders were state runners-up.
The coaches representing Class AA made their nominations and final selections during their awards ceremony May 14 in Macon. In addition to several Highlanders making the final cut, FPCA coach Tom Sukaratana was chosen as the girls’ All-Region and All-State coach of the year.
A teary-eyed Sukaratana handed out the All-Region and All-State awards during FPCA’s annual fall and spring sports awards ceremony Monday at First Presbyterian Church.
“I have been blessed,” he said. “We have people that supported us and I would like to thank FPCA and the people who have helped me ... I salute the players, but most of all I salute the parents.”
The teams combined for 24 shutouts this season, and Sukaratana said the best is yet to come as many of the players will return next year. He said many of the top AAA schools are clamoring to play his team — the same schools that just a few years ago didn’t consider FPCA a worthy opponent to add to their schedules. “And if you pardon the cliche’, they ain’t seen nothing yet,” Sukaratana told the FPCA soccer parents and fans. “Next year will be our year.”
A majority of FPCA’s starters will be seniors next year and will comprise the largest senior class Sukaratana has had at the school. Also, the incoming juniors, sophomores, freshmen and eighth-graders will bring a wealth of experience in regular- and postseason play.
The boys’ All-State selections were awarded to players who were juniors. For the girls, one senior and four juniors earned honors. The All-Region teams had players representing eighth grade and up.
The FPCA fall and spring awards ceremony honored the athletes from cheerleading, golf, tennis, track and field, swimming, basketball, baseball and soccer. The coaching staff of each sport selected its annual MVP, Most Improved and Highlander Award winners.
A complete list of award winners will be in Friday’s Courier.
FPCA postseason honors
Boys’ All-Region selections
Tareak Barnes (junior)
Tyler Causer (junior)
Rickey Gilliard (junior)
Stanford Graham (junior)
Clark Sukaratana (junior)
Rob Abrams – Honorable Mention (senior)
Garrett Thornton – Honorable Mention (senior)

Girls’ All-Region selections
Hope Armstrong (senior)
Megan Higgasson (freshman)
Asyria Daniels (junior)
Kelsey Higgasson (junior)
Summer Mehalko (junior)
Brooke Standard (junior)
Elaina Peterson (sophomore)
Myesha Robinson — Honorable Mention (sophomore)
Elise Letnauchyn — Honorable Mention (sophomore)
Cecilia Graham — Honorable Mention (eighth grade)
All-Region girls’ coach of the year: Tom Sukaratana

Boys’ All-State selections
Tareak Barnes, Tyler Causer, Rickey Gilliard, Clark Sukaratana and Stanford Graham

Girls’ All-State selections
Hope Armstrong, Kelsey Higgasson, Summer Mehalko, Brooke Standard and Elaina Peterson
Megan Higgasson — All-State Honorable Mention
All-State girls’ coach of the year: Tom Sukaratana