The honor, Jade Grimm said, was cool.

But the title was cooler.

Grimm, who led Cedar Rapids Kennedy to four trips to the Class 2A state final — including a championship last month — has been named the state’s player of the year by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Kennedy finished 20-0.

“(The championship), that was the most important thing,” said Grimm, who scored a career-high 39 goals this season. “It was so cool. We had a great coach, and I had great teammates.”

Two of them — Jenny Martin and Rachel Spellerberg — join Grimm on the Elite all-state team.

So does Kathryn Mettenberg of Cedar Rapids Xavier, the Class 1A player of the year.

The Cougars had fallen short in their quests for a title in 2006, 2007 and 2008, losing 1-0 games to West Des Moines Valley each time. They got the job done this season.

“(Coach) Homer (Screws) came in, and he was able to help us get the win,” Grimm said. “Our team was friends on and off the field. We wanted it for each other.”

The 2A first team also features Sarah Boniface of Cedar Rapids Washington.

Mettenberg was one of three Xavier players to make the 1A first team, joining Colleen Bouchard and Tori Shepard.

All of them will return in 2010, when the Saints — if they remain in 1A — will pursue their fifth straight championship.

Union’s Darian Powell, who scored 70 goals in her freshman season, made the Elite and 1A first team. Solon’s Amanda Ulin and Center Point-Urbana’s Kaitlin Mitchell are 1A first-teamers.