Stephen Bickford of Green Hope High School in Cary, N.C., and Christina DiMartino of Massapequa (N.Y.) High School have been named the 2004 NSCAA/adidas High School Boys and Girls National Players of the Year. They will be recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America at its All-America Luncheon on Saturday, Jan. 15. The Luncheon will be held in conjunction with the annual NSCAA Convention, which runs from Jan. 12-16 in Baltimore, Md.
Bickford has rewritten the Green Hope High School career goals record with 124 tallies during his career. His 48 goals in only 24 matches as a senior also set the school’s single-season mark, surpassing his 44 goals in 23 games as a junior. The North Carolina State Player of the Year, he is a two-time NSCAA/adidas High School All-America and earned the honor in the Youth division this year as well. The 2004 adidas ESP Most Valuable Player, he has led his club team to back-to-back state cup titles. He has committed to play at the University of North Carolina next fall.
DiMartino earned her second NSCAA/adidas Girls High School All-America selection this season, adding to the honor she received as a sophomore. She also was named Nassau County Player of the Year and All-Long Island both of those years. Despite an injury while playing with the U.S. National Team that cut short her high school season, she claimed a Parade All-American recognition as a junior.
