SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Recognition kept rolling in for the Sylacauga’s boys soccer program this week, and it came from every level, with multiple Aggies earning all-county and all-state honors and head coach Billy Faircloth collecting top coaching awards.
Faircloth headlined the list, securing the 2026 Class 5A Public Schools All-State Coach of the Year honor along with Talladega County Boys Soccer Coach of the Year. The accolades follow a year in which Sylacauga compiled a 15-4-3 record, protected its home field without a blemish, and ran through area play unbeaten.
Six Sylacauga players landed on the Talladega County All-County teams: Jackson Carter, Kaleb Fisher, Joe Gaspar, Casey Malone, Anderson Shaw, and Cole Wright. Malone was selected as Box-to-Box Midfielder of the Year, while Wright earned Keeper of the Year.
The recognition didn’t stop at the county level. Malone and Wright both secured spots on the All-State Second Team across all classifications (1A–7A) and were joined by Carter on the Class 5A First Team. Shaw and Fisher received Class 5A Second Team honors, while Jarrett Harris was named an honorable mention selection.
All-County honors are determined by coaches within Talladega County, while the All-State teams and coaching awards are voted on by coaches across Alabama.
This senior group leaves behind a standard that won’t be easy to match. Over their careers, the Aggies went a perfect 24-0 in area play and secured four straight area championships, ending their journey together as one of the most accomplished groups the program has ever seen.
