With 14 seniors, the Gahanna Lincoln High School boys soccer team expected a big season in 2009. But the final piece for the Lions came through good fortune.

When the economy forced the closure of Brad Friedel's Premier Soccer Academy in Lorain early this year, Gahanna resident Wil Trapp returned home to finish his sophomore year.

He had a huge impact as the Lions won the Division I state title. Trapp was selected Captain of the ThisWeek Super 12 Team.

"I played with and against all these guys since I was young and I was only gone for a year and a half. So, we picked things up where we left off," said Trapp, a junior forward who had nine goals and 12 assists.

Trapp scored the final goal in the Lions' shootout victory over Cleveland St. Ignatius in the state championship. Gahanna won 1-0 (4-3 shootout) on Nov. 13 at Crew Stadium.

"(The Academy) was my best opportunity to get high-quality training on a daily basis against some of the best players in the world," Trapp said. "They brought in coaches from all over the world so we could learn different styles and expand our soccer knowledge."

It also opened doors for Trapp, who was invited to the U.S. National Team training camp for 16-year-olds. Trapp, who has also excelled for the Columbus Crew Youth Club Team, brought back all the intangibles needed to be the engine to the Lions' success.

"He's our quarterback out there," said coach Dwayne Marshall, whose team finished 22-0-1. "He gets play started for us, attracts defenders and gets the ball to others. It takes a special type of player to do that. His vision and skill level are as good, if not better, than anyone I've ever coached."

Trapp was the Player of the Year in the OCC-Ohio Division and the district. He was also first-team all-Ohio. He is the second player from Gahanna in the past 10 years to be named Captain, as goalkeeper Michael Lavric earned the honor as a senior in 2006.

Other past captains included Worthington Kilbourne's Matt Wiet (2008), Jeff Rusch (2004), Chris Wolever (2001) and Danny O'Rourke (2000), Hilliard Davidson's Colby Catlett (2007), Big Walnut's Braden Fleak (2005), Westerville North's Jeff Lenix (2003), Reynoldsburg's Tony Labudovski (2002) and Thomas Worthington's Troy Perkins (1999).

Wil Trapp had nine goals and 12 assists in leading Gahanna to the Division I state title.