“Just go have fun and enjoy every bit of what you’re getting ready to experience,” said Cordell Blue Devil Soccer Coach, Darrin Taylor. With a demanding and tasking season behind them, Cordell Blue Devil Soccer is proud to announce the names of the two seniors who made All-State, Noah Ramsey and Erin Dudgeon!
Without a shadow of a doubt, these two phenomenal players will give their all on the field and leave nothing behind. The All-State game is scheduled for Saturday, June 11. Start time is still to be decided.
Ramsey is the 19-year-old son of Carl and Jennifer Ramsey. He has had an astounding journey with soccer that started around age eight. "Ever since I was a kid, I’ve played soccer. It’s just the fact that being part of a team, a brotherhood, means so much to me. I’m a competitor and I love the competitiveness and competition of the sport," said Ramsey. "You have to have so much skill and knowledge about the sport in order to be a great player. You have to put lots and lots of time into footwork, control, power, everything, I just love the game. It’s hard to [say] why I love the game but all I know is that ever since I touched a soccer ball when I was young, I just felt a connection and never let it go." He has multiple awards and trophies that help showcase his hard work and dedication to this beloved sport. Making the All-State team was no surprise for Ramsey, but exciting nonetheless.
“I had a feeling I would make it. I know the kind of player I am and I know the game.” He is currently still deciding between two colleges, National Park College in Hot Springs, Ark. and Randall University in Moore, OK. Ramsey plans to study business management with a dual degree in sports management and business association. “I want to say thank you to both Coach Taylor and Buddy Holman for always pushing me to be the best, and to Greg Gunning for being a great coach and a second father figure to me. I also want to thank my dad for coaching me for many years and making me the player I am today,” expressed Ramsey.
Ramsey has been a four year starter for Cordell Blue Devil Soccer. He has shown an immense amount of effort and strength this past season.
“Noah is a great kid, he listens, he’s very knowledgeable about soccer and he made the All-State team as a defender,” said Coach Taylor. “It’s very rare for us to get a boy on the team, so this is a big deal! It’s a very big honor when you’re a little bitty school like we are.”
Because Ramsey is such a skilled player and knows the sport, he was able to play multiple positions. Although he is more of a midfielder or forward, he has contributed most to defense.
“When you only have nine or 10 players, you have to play more defense than offense to keep the games close,” stated Coach Taylor. Ramsey will undoubtedly bring his share to the table where ever he chooses to continue his athletic and academic career.
Erin Dudgeon is the 18-year-old daughter of Jason Dudgeon and Candace Dudgeon. She is a force to be reckoned with on the field. She has been playing soccer since she was three years old and knew at such a young age that she wanted to play collegiate soccer.
This fall Dudgeon plans to continue her athletic and academic career at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she will major in physical therapy and chiropractic.
“I chose Southwestern because of the environment and to be able to be close to home and support my sister while she goes through school,” expressed Dudgeon. “With this being said, I want to thank my dad for dragging me to all those practices when I was little and throwing a tantrum about not going. For all the miles we’ve drove out of state for tournaments, not killing me the few times we showed up to the field to realize I left my cleats seven hours away at home and of course for constantly pushing me to go harder in practices/games, and never giving up on me through any of it.”
“To my mom, thank you for being the soccer mom who always brought the team snacks, making sure we had the right address to the fields, always making sure we leave earlier than needed because no matter what we were most likely gonna be late, and for constantly making sure that I still had love for the game. Lastly, my sister Zandalin, thank you for being by my side through it all. From all the early morning games, to making sure you were at every single game this year to be my passing partner. I wouldn’t trade all the laughs on the field from you making fun of me for anything. I am so proud of you and can’t wait to watch you start your junior high season.”
Like Ramsey, Dudgeon is such a skilled player that she can play the field in any position. She made the All-State team as a midfielder.
“Erin has been a four year starter and lead scorer all four yeas. I hated that the pandemic cost her a year, I would of loved to see how many goals she would have scored that year,” said Coach Taylor. “I’ve known ever since she was in the seventh grade that she would be a shoo-in as an all stater.”
With the All-State game, players need to have the ability to play at such a certain level and with players from bigger schools. Not everyone has that ability, and these two do.
“It makes you feel good to get to go watch them compete. They’ve always contributed to the game. You feel very proud that they can compete with those kids. It’s a very humbling moment,” said Coach Taylor.
“I don’t take a lot of credit because it takes a very special player to be at that caliber to compete. But it is a good feeling to know that you helped them a little bit.” Soccer is a sport that teaches players about teamwork, perseverance, and decision making that they will be able to apply to all aspects of their life.”
“I am very proud of those two. They have put in the hours working on their craft and working to be the best at what they do,” stated Assistant Soccer Coach, Buddy Holman.
“They lead by example and it has been fun helping coach them the last two years. I’m excited to see how they do when they get mixed in with other players and the level of competition at the All-State games. They will represent Cordell proudly and I am looking forward to them competing at the next level.”
This sport helps them learn to survive and weather the ups and downs that come with life, anticipate opportunities and how to better work with their peers to solve and accomplish tasking situations.