When Bangor High’s Jay Jeffrey wanted to play travel soccer against the toughest competition in the state, he had to go south. And southern Maine high schools have long dominated interscholastic soccer in championships and statewide awards.

But this year, Jeffrey is one of three local students to be recognized as one of the top soccer players in the nation.

Bangor senior midfielder Jeffrey and Kyle McMorrow, a senior forward at Waterville High School, were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America-Adidas All-America team.

Jeffrey is the first Bangor soccer player to earn the national honor, and it is believed that no one from Waterville north has ever been named a NSCAA All-American.

“I’ve worked just as hard as they have,” Jeffrey said of the other soccer stars who have been named All-America, many of whom have come from the Portland area and south. “I’ve put in my time.”

Junior striker Christine Serdjenian, also of Waterville, was the state’s selection for the girls’ All-America team. She earned All-New England honors last year.

Jeffrey and McMorrow were also named to the All-New England team along with Conor Welch, a senior forward from Class C state champion North Yarmouth Academy.

Jeffrey, McMorrow and Welch, along with all-state and regional all-star teams from Classes A, B, C and D will be honored at the Maine Soccer Coaches Association banquet Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Spectacular Events Center in Bangor.

Soccer coaches from all over the state vote for the all-stars. The top boy and top girl vote-getters are named to the All-America teams.

This year, Jeffrey and McMorrow tied in the balloting.

Jeffrey has been a four-year starter for the Rams and was named to the all-state team last year. A Penobscot Valley Conference Class A first-teamer this year, Jeffrey scored eight goals and tallied three assists, which tied him with Matt Anderson in scoring for Bangor.

Jeffrey, the son of Michael and Alayna, has nearly completed the requirements for his Eagle Scout award. He completed a big part of that this summer and fall when he built two bench houses for the Bangor High soccer field.

Jeffrey’s All-America honor was supposed to be a secret until the day of the banquet. But Welch, who plays with Jeffrey on an Olympic Development soccer team, called him this past Sunday to offer congratulations.

“I was stunned,” Jeffrey said. “I had no clue.”

McMorrow scored the winning goal in Waterville’s 3-1 win over Cheverus of Portland in the state championship game this fall. He finished the season with 21 goals and eight assists.

“He’s a very skillful player,” said Jeffrey, who has played with McMorrow in the Premier League, which is a league of travel teams in the state. “He’s got the moves. He’s the kind of player that feeds you the ball and lets you score.”

Panthers coach Doug Jones said although Eastern Maine teams have now won two Class A championships in a row, and have two senior All-Americans, he’s not sure it means anything for the strength of the East.

“I think a lot more of the Eastern Maine coaches vote,” he said. “But certainly the Waterville program has grown, and Bangor and Hampden have grown in reputation.”