A case could be made for Columbus North junior Jenna Lang being one of the top high school girls soccer players in the state.
Wednesday night, additional evidence supported that argument.
Lang received one of high school soccer’s biggest achievements, as she was one of 57 girls chosen as an United Soccer Coaches Fall High Schools All-America Team for 2020.
“That has been one of my goals for my high school career and soccer career in general. I just think that’s what I was striving towards and that’s like the highest honor that you could receive in high school soccer,” Lang said. “It was just really cool to add that to some of the other things I’ve been working towards, and it just makes me happy to see that my work is paying off.”
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The process of Lang being selected as an All-American started the day after the state finals ended. Coaches from each of the state’s districts vote on the top 18 players, and those players make first-team All-State. However, the top three highest in votes make All-American, and the top eight make the All-Region team.
Lang was one of the top three in the state in votes received.
“I’m proud of her as a kid and a student-athlete,” North coach David Young said. “I’m very excited for her family. As much time and effort that they’ve put in with her, taking her to and from practices, and her devoting her time during practices and outside of practices, all that hard work over the years, she’s getting rewarded. People are seeing those accomplishments, and they’re giving her those accolades.”
The Bull Dogs had one of the most successful seasons in program history this past fall. They claimed Conference Indiana, sectional and regional titles, reaching the Class 3A final four before falling in the semistate to finish the season 18-2-1.
Following the team’s regional title, Lang announced her commitment to continue her soccer career at the University of Michigan.
In addition to being named All-American and All-Region, Lang also earned first-team All-State honors by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association and the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association. She also earned All-Conference Indiana honors and was named the Most Valuable Player for the Bull Dogs.
It was an unforgettable year for Lang, who shattered many North records this past season. She set the single-season record for goals scored with 44, breaking the record of 39 held by Kayliegh Steigerwalt in 2010.
She also finished with 11 assists that helped her break the single-season points record with 99. That broke Steigerwalt’s previous record of 85 also from 2010. During the season, Lang also tied the single-game record in goals scored with six.
Lang will also likely shatter the career records for goals and points after she’s finished her senior year. She is third for career goals with 95, trailing only Steigerwalt and Lindsey Fox, who have 113 and 109, respectively. Lang also is third in career points with 214, trailing Steigerwalt and Fox, who have 254 and 244, respectively.
Lang and the Bull Dogs hope to have the same amount of success next season.
“The nice thing is, we have a lot of returning players coming back,” Young said. “Jenna’s very excited about next season, as well. And so, hopefully we can repeat and make it even farther next year.”
