WKUL announcers enjoy AHSAA soccer assignment:

GDW Analysis:
HUNTSVILLE: It appears to be the final assignment for WKUL FM broadcasters Johnny "Flash" Thornton and Rich Jesse in the 2023/24 AHSAA season.
The last two weekends, the duo that is heard regularly on 92.1 FM for football, basketball, baseball and softball, were given an opportunity to be a part of the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) Network.
On May 3 & 4, the duo divided time behind the microphone with the AHSAA track championship for the small schools from Cullman's Mark Britton Field/Oliver Woodard Stadium.
For Mother's Day weekend, both were given the chance to endure the excitement, calling the AHSAA soccer championships from the Loretta Spencer Sportsplex/John Hunt Park in Huntsville.
Championship play took place on Field 1 and Field 2 with three games for the pair to broadcast on Friday and two they were involved with on Saturday.
The NFHS has found a new addition with WKUL going back to February when Flash and Jesse accepted an invitation by the streaming network to call the championship games of the Northwest basketball regional from Wallace State.
A good association has been formed through NFHS representative Stefan Lollar and WKUL FM program director Ron Mosley Jr.
The two parties have joined forces with the station being able to get its announcers into the championship frame with the NFHS. Three championships were streamed live for those who cannot attend the events.
Streaming high school sports is on the move up with the Alabama High School Athletic Association and the NFHS now presenting championship play in the sanctioned sports by the AHSAA of football, cross country, volleyball, basketball, indoor track, outdoor track, soccer, baseball and softball.
"The NFHS and the AHSAA have built something that serves as a valuable purpose for championship play with these games," Thornton said. Plenty of people may not be able to be in person for the championship games and now, the AHSAA & NFHS gives them a chance to see the games, through the new technology of streaming via the internet."
From the AHSAA soccer championships:
On Friday, Flash had games on Field 1 of the Spencer complex/Hunt Park with analysis provided by Mountain Brook soccer coach Joe Webb.
Jesse was stationed on Field 2, being joined by Spain Park coach Matt Hall in the analysis role.
From Field 1:
Gulf Shores 3 to 2 over Guntersville in OT in Class 5A.
Springville 5 to 2 over Gulf Shores in Class 5A G.
Westminster Huntsville 3 to 1 over St. Michael in 4A G
Field 2:
Bayside Academy 3 to 0 over Mars Hill in Class 4A.
St. Luke's 3 to 2 over Westminster Oak Mtn in Class 1A/3A
St. James 3 to 0 over Donoho in Class 1A/3A G.
 Saturday:
Field 1
Homewood 3 to 1 over Spanish Fort in Class 6A.
Mountain Brook 2 to 0 over Briarwood Christian in Class 6A G.
Field 2:
Auburn 1 to 0 over Hoover in Class 7A G.
Oak Mountain 3 to 0 over Auburn in Class 7A.
Flash Facts:
Flash's 1st broadcast of championship play Friday was a dandy with Gulf Shores coming from 2 goals down and winning it on a goal in the extra frame by the eventual MVP, senior Tavan Galvan.
For Jesse, his 2nd match was a tight battle with No. 1 St. Luke's of Mobile getting past No. 3 Westminster Oak Mountain from Birmingham.
The 5A girls called by Flash featured a hat trick by Springville's Rebecca Sierra-Burciaga to give the Lady Tigers their 2nd straight state championship. Springville lost the season opener to Northridge of Tuscaloosa. They did not lose in the next 23 games.
Jesse's finale on Friday was a 1 vs. 2 in the 1A/3A girls with St. James of Montgomery facing Donoho from Anniston.
St. James wore down Donoho to claim its first championship.
Westminster Huntsville was the local school to earn a title in its own city.
AnnaLi Weekly had 2 goals that were enough to lead No. 1 Westminster over No. 2 St. Michael in the 4A girls.
The match started interesting for Flash when senior Maddie Key for St. Michael scored 52 seconds into the contest on a free kick beyond 30 yards out.
Weekly would work her way to the MVP award for the 2nd consecutive year as her team has claimed back-to-back championships in 4A soccer.
For the pair on Saturday, Flash started with No. 1 Homewood surviving a challenge from unranked Spanish Fort in the 6A final.
Two goals by Will Jackson sent the Patriots ahead and for him on his way to accept the MVP award.
A standout 7A girls match for Jesse to begin his Saturday schedule was on display with No. 2 Auburn shutting out No. 3 Hoover by one goal.
The last game for Jesse brought him the opportunity to see a program that is outstanding in the AHSAA and also popular in being 2nd ranked currently in the nation in 7A.
Oak Mountain closed out a season of staying undefeated with 29 wins, 0 losses and a tie.
The Eagles finished off 5th ranked Auburn with a good 2nd half. This is the Eagles' first championship since 2017 and 8th overall.
For Flash, a Birmingham area battle in 6A girls in the Rocket City.
Mountain Brook went through five matches in the playoffs, never allowing the opposition to score.
The last three wins for the Lady Spartans were by scores of 2 to 0 against Mortimer Jordan in the quarterfinals, Athens in the semifinals and the title bout with Briarwood Christian.
In the MVP award, it went to goalkeeper Laine Minich.
Minich fought off 4 shots on goal by Briarwood as a couple of opportunities for the Lady Lions were denied.
One attempt hit the top of the goalpost in the 2nd half with Briarwood trying to get on the board.
The 2nd was totally frustrating when Briarwood's Ava Hoaglund seemed to be sending the ball past Minich and into the net.
However, by the officials ruling, the ball never crossed the plain of the goal line and the score was not allowed.
Briarwood would come up empty on another close range shot.
This was Mountain's Brook 5th championship, the first for the Lady Spartans since 2013.
  Flash and Jesse, WKUL look forward for future opportunities in working with the NFHS as well as the AHSAA.
"We are doing what is needed in our role to work with the NFHS Network and for us as a station and our announcers, to be of something great in calling championship play," Thornton said.
" I know this for myself and Rich, we were honored to be the announcers to call the Good Hope girls victory in the 4A Northwest Regional at Wallace State in February. Both of us last weekend got to see a local dynasty in track from Cold Springs winning the 2A title again and for a great closure on his prep career, Ethan Edgeworth of Cold Springs winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter and on the 4 X 800 relay.
"Those are moments that have great meaning to the performers and also to the broadcasters and those who produce the games for radio listeners and internet followers."

Photo of WKUL's Rich Jesse (left) and analyst Matt Hall prior to the 7A girls final between Auburn and Hoover Saturday in Huntsville.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.