Wheatmore’s Messner takes turn in soccer spotlight

Wheatmore’s Maggie Messner, left, makes a play against Wilkes Central’s Riley Huffman during the 2023 state playoffs. (Randolph Record)

TRINITY – Maggie Messner had a huge impact for Wheatmore’s historic success in girls’ soccer.

She was a bit under the radar with the Warriors, so she’s excited about the recognition that comes with a spot in next week’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game.

“For me, the best part is that because I’m not getting to play at the next level, I get to showcase myself and show what I can do and how I’ve developed,” Messner said. “I get to do it one last time. … The game is a chance to get my personal recognition.”

That’s appropriate in Wheatmore coach Rick Maness’ mind.

“I’m happy for her,” he said. “Only certain ones are going to get attention. Now she is able to get in the spotlight.”

The N.C. East-West All-Star Game is for seniors from the Class of 2024. Messner will be a defender on the West team Tuesday night in Greensboro.

Messner was a four-year starter at outside left back for the Warriors, who won the 2022 Class 2A state championship, were 2023 state runners-up and played this year in the West Region final. The state title marked the first in any sport at Wheatmore.

“We were the first to ever do it,” Messner said. “Just getting to represent my school and it just all came together.”

Huge attention tended to be focused on Wheatmore classmate Ellie Garrison, who became the career scoring leader for girls’ soccer in North Carolina.

Messner came up through youth leagues as an offensive player. When she arrived at Wheatmore, Maness had other ideas.

“When Maggie got there as a freshman, she had always been a forward,” he said. “I needed a defender in the back … and she fell in love with it.”

There was never a reason to have her play in other positions.

“She’s got a lot of IQ,” Maness said. “She just knew how to play ‘em.”

It worked out.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she said.

Messner, 18, is going to Appalachian State, but won’t be playing soccer. She’s planning to study sports broadcasting and journalism.

This summer, she has a game day job with the Carolina Core, which is a first-year minor league men’s soccer team in High Point.

Messner will be Wheatmore’s first player in the N.C. East-West All-Star Game. That will be held at Jamieson Stadium on the Greensboro Grimsley campus – a different venue than recent years. The girls’ game begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by a boys’ game.