By Rubin E. Grant
Vestavia Hills seniors Betsy Whitson and Addison Mizerany had such chemistry on the soccer field that their teammates and coaches called them “Baddison.”
The two best friends had been playing together since the third grade, so the moniker is appropriate. “I wouldn’t love soccer as much as I do if we didn’t get to play together,” Whitson says.
The “Baddison” connection took center stage in the AHSAA Class 7A girls championship game against defending state champion Auburn on May 10 at Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex’s John Hunt Soccer Park in Huntsville.
Auburn (20-4-1) took an early 1-0 lead when Claire Nappier scored on a penalty kick nine minutes into game. Vestavia Hills quickly responded when Kelsey Redden scored on an assist from Whitson just a minute and 45 seconds later to tie the score 1-1.
The Rebels (21-2-4) broke the tie less than a minute later when Mizerany took a pass from Whitson and found the back of the net. Whitson later scored on a corner kick at the 61:24 mark to clinch the Rebels’ 3-1 victory and bring Vestavia Hills its seventh girls state championship. It was their first title since 2019.
“I am just so excited we won,” Whitson says. “I am really thankful for the team I did it with.”
Whitson earned Class 7A MVP honors with her goal and two assists. “I was very honored to be named MVP, but I thought ‘Bri’ was the MVP for getting us to that game,” Whitson says.
‘Bri’ is Rebels’ junior goalkeeper Brianna Tortorici. She had four saves against Auburn, but it was her play in goal in the Rebels’ tense semifinal victory against James Clemens that stood out.
The Rebels pulled out a 2-1 thriller in a shootout after two overtimes. Vestavia Hills won the shots-from-the-mark shootout 4-3. Tortorici recorded 11 saves in the match.
In the shots-from-the-mark showdown, Kelsey Redden, Cameron Dickerson, Kendall Roberts and Katie Llewellyn all made their goals for Vestavia Hills. Rebels senior Emma Listi scored the team’s only goal in regulation on a defensive turnover at the 11:57 mark in the first half.
“Our goalkeeper enabled us to survive,” Whitson says. “I think after making it through the James Clemens game we realized the state championship was ours, and we just had to go out and win it.”
The Rebels avenged a season-opening 3-0 loss to Auburn with the championship game triumph. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Vestavia Hills coach Brigid Meadow says. “It was amazing. The girls gave lights out effort and played at a level that was unmatched. They’re awesome. They’re just one of the best teams I’ve coached.”
In the postgame huddle, Meadow informed her team that she was retiring after more than 400 victories and six state championships. “I was trying to find the right time to tell them,” Meadow says. “I didn’t want the season to be about me, but to be about them. I got a little choked up, and they were a little teary-eyed, but I am so happy we had this season together, and I got to tell them during such a happy moment.”
