Theo Biddle honored as Gatorade D.C. Boys Soccer Player of the Year

CHICAGO (Via Gatorade) — In its 33rd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, has announced Theo Biddle of Wilson High School as its 2017-18 Gatorade District of Columbia Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

Biddle is the first Gatorade District of Columbia Boys Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Wilson High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Biddle as District of Columbia’s best high school boys soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in June, Biddle joins an elite alumni association of past state soccer award-winners, including Alexi Lalas (1987- 88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Steve Cherundolo (1996-97, Mt. Carmel HS, Calif.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02, 2002-03, East Brunswick HS, N.J.), Matt Besler (2004-04, Blue Valley West HS, Kans.), Jack Harrison (2013-14, Berkshire HS, Mass.), Mallory Pugh (2014-15, Mountain Vista HS, Colo.).

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior defender anchored a defense that recorded 11 shutouts in 18 games, leading the Tigers (16-1- 1) to the D.C. Scholastic Athletic Association tournament semifinals this past season. Biddle also contributed two goals and two assists to the offense. A member of the U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Olympic Development Team, he was a Second Team All-Met selection by the Washington Post.

A member of Alpha Leadership Program, which encourages leadership qualities in minority students, Biddle has volunteered locally as a teaching assistant in a chemistry class for English language learners at Wilson High. “Theo is a multi-dimensional player with offensive skills that allowed him to score and assist in big games,” said Whitney Minnis, head coach of Wilson High. “Theo was incredible this season.”

Biddle has maintained a weighted 4.04 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a national letter of intent to play soccer on scholarship at the College of William & Mary beginning this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Biddle joins recent Gatorade District of Columbia Boys Soccer Players of the Year Nico Ubide (2016-17, Washington International School), Nate Johnson (2015-16, St. Albans School), Chris Fleischer (2014-15, St. Albans School), Nick Jackson (2013-14, Sidwell Friends School), Nicko Corriveau (2012-13, Gonzaga College High School), Ian Harkes (2011-12, Gonzaga College High School), Joey Wilkins (2010–11, Gonzaga College High School), Ben Norton (2009-10, Sidwell Friends School), Chris Perez (2008–09, Gonzaga College), Yoni Berhanu (2007-08, Sidwell Friends School), and Matt Marcin (2006-07, Charter School of Wilmington) among the state’s list of former award winners.

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Biddle will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.