The high school fall soccer season kicks off this Saturday with the traditional jamborees at Floyd Central and Providence.
And what a memorable season it promises to be. Can Floyd Central girls’ varsity make it five sectional titles in a row before the new two class structure is introduced in 2011?
Can Providence stop the run and regain a crown last won in 2005? Or maybe New Albany will spoil the party for both, and lift its first IHSAA sectional championship?
Floyd Central coach Lewie Stevens believes the Pioneers, coached by Dave Smith, are the team to beat this fall.
“They are skilled at every position and one year stronger and wiser,” he said.
Stevens also believes New Albany, led by Julie Deuser, will be a formidable opponent this year.
“They lost (Kaitlin) Robinett but they are still fast, skilled and very well coached,” he said. “They won’t rely on one player as much and could possibly be more dangerous and well balanced than last year.”
The Highlanders, narrowly beaten in last year’s regional championship encounter by Columbus North, are themselves working very hard in a bid for more honors, revealed Stevens.
“This group is very enjoyable because they have a good work ethic but also enjoy having a good laugh,” he said. “Despite last year’s experience we are still a pretty young team.”
Over on the boys’ side, New Albany comes into the fall as defending regional champion, a title earned after a fantastic post-season under the guidance of coach Ben Vigar.
Returning as the team’s head coach will be his father, Dutch, who has been involved with Bulldogs soccer for the past 21 years.
“It feels great to be coaching again, he said. “I am extremely proud and happy for my son Ben and the success he experienced at the end of last season. I wish he were on the coaching staff this year, but he has decided to take a break since he and his wife Jenna recently had a beautiful daughter named Molly.”
The post-season rivalry between Jeffersonville and Providence will also come to an end after this fall due to the two class system. Both teams are under the stewardship of new coaches in the shape of Carson Webb and Brandon Rogers respectively.
Christian Academy of Indiana, meanwhile, may be without standouts Andrew Rosenberg and Drew Mattingly, but coach Will Lorigan still expects his Warriors to be a handful for the traditional powerhouses once again come post-season.
You will be able to catch a glimpse of the area’s top teams and players at both of Saturday’s jamborees.
First into action will be the participants at Providence, which will include the boys and girls of the hosts, North Harrison, Corydon and Madison.
Action kicks off at 3.30 p.m. and admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students and free for children 10 and under. The alumni game will follow.
The Floyd Central jamboree starts at 6 p.m. and will feature boys’ and girls teams from the hosts, Jeffersonville, and New Albany.
Games are 20 minutes in length with just one half.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Foursome to play in national league
Javanon’s 1994 team, which features southern Indiana foursome Jordan Vejar, Nick Blackwell, Matt Kelecy, and Daniel Wilburn, has just been accepted into the US Youth Soccer National League, which kicks off in November.
The team recently won the Midwest Regional League’s Premier Red Division at U16 level, and will now compete in one of the two U17 eight team leagues.
It is the first time any team from Kentucky has played in the league – which caters for the nation’s top boys’ and girls’ teams in the U15, U16 and U17 age categories -- since its inception in 2007.
Coach Jason Bell said that being accepted into the national league is an exceptional accomplishment for the boys as well as the club, and is a direct result of the hard work and sacrifice by the team.
“As the first team from Kentucky to be accepted into the league, we have a chance to show the nation that our area is producing high-level talent and play,” said Bell. “Playing games against the best teams in the country in their age group will not only be an exciting opportunity, but very important for the college recruitment of these boys.”
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He added that Blackwell (New Albany), Vejar (Jeffersonville), Matt Kelecy (Floyd Central), and Daniel Wilburn (Providence) have all played a crucial role in the team's success.
“Nick, Jordan, and Matt anchored a defense that was exceptional all season, while Daniel Wilburn provided much needed energy and enthusiasm to our attack,” said Bell.
Also pivotal to the success of the team, he added, is former coach Derek Willis, who is now the head coach at Georgetown College in Kentucky.
The seven game season will begin with games from November 18-21 in Wilson, North Carolina, with the second round of games taking place from February 19-21 in Florida. The final play date will combine boys and girls in late March with the location and specific dates to be announced.
Above: Jordan Vejar, Nick Blackwell, Daniel Wilburn and Matt Kelecy.
The team recently won the Midwest Regional League’s Premier Red Division at U16 level, and will now compete in one of the two U17 eight team leagues.
It is the first time any team from Kentucky has played in the league – which caters for the nation’s top boys’ and girls’ teams in the U15, U16 and U17 age categories -- since its inception in 2007.
Coach Jason Bell said that being accepted into the national league is an exceptional accomplishment for the boys as well as the club, and is a direct result of the hard work and sacrifice by the team.
“As the first team from Kentucky to be accepted into the league, we have a chance to show the nation that our area is producing high-level talent and play,” said Bell. “Playing games against the best teams in the country in their age group will not only be an exciting opportunity, but very important for the college recruitment of these boys.”
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He added that Blackwell (New Albany), Vejar (Jeffersonville), Matt Kelecy (Floyd Central), and Daniel Wilburn (Providence) have all played a crucial role in the team's success.
“Nick, Jordan, and Matt anchored a defense that was exceptional all season, while Daniel Wilburn provided much needed energy and enthusiasm to our attack,” said Bell.
Also pivotal to the success of the team, he added, is former coach Derek Willis, who is now the head coach at Georgetown College in Kentucky.
The seven game season will begin with games from November 18-21 in Wilson, North Carolina, with the second round of games taking place from February 19-21 in Florida. The final play date will combine boys and girls in late March with the location and specific dates to be announced.
Above: Jordan Vejar, Nick Blackwell, Daniel Wilburn and Matt Kelecy.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Parental interference cause coach to resign
A few days ago, I was in the middle of penning (or computering) a few words on the new high school fall soccer season and the subject of parents, when -- lo and behold -- news broke about an Indiana varsity boys’ coach abruptly resigning due “parental interference.”
The coach in question, Bashir Birany, led Zionsville to its first ever state title last October. He was quoted in the Indianapolis Star as saying that said interference “had been going on for a while,” had undermined him, and was affecting his ability to do his job.
It was his lone season at the Eagles, where he went 20-3-2 after taking over from Mike Smith in 2009.
One of the biggest problems with parents of high school soccer players is that quite a few of them never played or were immersed in the game as youths and are therefore not that well versed in its laws or tactics.
So, when opinions are expressed in a public or aggressive fashion, they are not helpful to referees, players or coaches.
Partly because of this ignorance – and partly because of glasses of the rose tinted variety -- their views of the talents of little Johnny or Mary can also be a little skewed, causing problems with off the field with coaches.
Some of the parents are even involved in the team set-up in some way, which causes additional conflict when their influence is used in a manipulative way.
Don’t get me wrong: I love the fact that people who never had an interest in the sport suddenly do, even if it is solely because their child has chosen to play the sport. The more the merrier.
And a number of these parents have actually made the effort to educate themselves, and are also of great benefit to their respective teams in terms of the work they put in each year.
There will be a few new head coaches of our area high school soccer teams when the season kicks off next week. They include Brandon Rogers (Providence boys), Carson Webb (Jeffersonville boys) and Jeremy Pickerell (Jeffersonville girls), while Dutch Vigar returns as New Albany boys’ boss.
Hopefully they, and those who return to coach your kids and mentor them over the coming months, will be allowed do their jobs as best they can without too much outside interference.
If you are new, or relatively new, to the game and are willing to learn more about it, one very useful website is Soccer for Parents (www.soccer-for-parents.com), where you can also download an e-book entitled, “Ten Simple Soccer Rules for Baffled Parents.”
Watching as much soccer as possible, either local games or those on TV, is also recommended, as is seeking out a referee soccer course.
As your knowledge increases, so too will your appreciation of the game. You won’t be disappointed and the game on a local level will be that little bit better for it.
The coach in question, Bashir Birany, led Zionsville to its first ever state title last October. He was quoted in the Indianapolis Star as saying that said interference “had been going on for a while,” had undermined him, and was affecting his ability to do his job.
It was his lone season at the Eagles, where he went 20-3-2 after taking over from Mike Smith in 2009.
One of the biggest problems with parents of high school soccer players is that quite a few of them never played or were immersed in the game as youths and are therefore not that well versed in its laws or tactics.
So, when opinions are expressed in a public or aggressive fashion, they are not helpful to referees, players or coaches.
Partly because of this ignorance – and partly because of glasses of the rose tinted variety -- their views of the talents of little Johnny or Mary can also be a little skewed, causing problems with off the field with coaches.
Some of the parents are even involved in the team set-up in some way, which causes additional conflict when their influence is used in a manipulative way.
Don’t get me wrong: I love the fact that people who never had an interest in the sport suddenly do, even if it is solely because their child has chosen to play the sport. The more the merrier.
And a number of these parents have actually made the effort to educate themselves, and are also of great benefit to their respective teams in terms of the work they put in each year.
There will be a few new head coaches of our area high school soccer teams when the season kicks off next week. They include Brandon Rogers (Providence boys), Carson Webb (Jeffersonville boys) and Jeremy Pickerell (Jeffersonville girls), while Dutch Vigar returns as New Albany boys’ boss.
Hopefully they, and those who return to coach your kids and mentor them over the coming months, will be allowed do their jobs as best they can without too much outside interference.
If you are new, or relatively new, to the game and are willing to learn more about it, one very useful website is Soccer for Parents (www.soccer-for-parents.com), where you can also download an e-book entitled, “Ten Simple Soccer Rules for Baffled Parents.”
Watching as much soccer as possible, either local games or those on TV, is also recommended, as is seeking out a referee soccer course.
As your knowledge increases, so too will your appreciation of the game. You won’t be disappointed and the game on a local level will be that little bit better for it.
National champions crowned
The US Youth Soccer national champions were crowned this week at Overland Park in Kansas.
There was no local representation this year after Javanon ’92, featuring Jeffersonville’s Trevor Bruner, was eliminated by Shattuck St Mary’s of Minnesota in the Region II championship game in Dayton, Ohio in June.
Shattuck finished runner-up after losing the U18 Andy Stone Cup championship decider 1-0 to EastSide United 91 Liverpool of Oregon. It was the state’s first ever national crown.
A total of 12 titles were decided for boys and girls from U14 to U19. The other 11 winners were from California (four), Texas (three), Illinois, Maryland, Georgia and Ohio.
Meanwhile, it was announced that Phoenix, Arizona will host next year’s national championships. The Region II (Midwest) tournament will take place at Fox Cities, Wisconsin.
There was no local representation this year after Javanon ’92, featuring Jeffersonville’s Trevor Bruner, was eliminated by Shattuck St Mary’s of Minnesota in the Region II championship game in Dayton, Ohio in June.
Shattuck finished runner-up after losing the U18 Andy Stone Cup championship decider 1-0 to EastSide United 91 Liverpool of Oregon. It was the state’s first ever national crown.
A total of 12 titles were decided for boys and girls from U14 to U19. The other 11 winners were from California (four), Texas (three), Illinois, Maryland, Georgia and Ohio.
Meanwhile, it was announced that Phoenix, Arizona will host next year’s national championships. The Region II (Midwest) tournament will take place at Fox Cities, Wisconsin.
ODP a lot of fun for Little
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Last week, we brought you news of Silver Creek sixth grader Grant Hollkamp’s exploits at the ODP boys’ camp in Kansas.
This week, it’s the turn of New Albany High School junior defender Taylor Little, who was part of the Indiana 1993 team that participated at the Region II camp in DeKalb, Illinois recently.
The team took on Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio South and eventual overall winners Michigan.
Little, who plays her club soccer with Mockingbird, got to play every minute of every game, and said the competition was tough but was a great experience and a lot of fun.
Above: New Albany High School’s Taylor Little (front row, second from right) is pictured with her Indiana OPD 1993 teammates at the Region II camp in DeKalb, Ill. recently.
New stats service for Indiana schools
A new statistics service for Indiana high school sports will begin this year, making information more accessible to coaches, players, fans and the media.
The IHSAA last week endorsed Denver based VarVee as its official statistics gathering partner, beginning with fall sports, including soccer.
Through its website at www.varvee.com, VarVee will provide every member school with instructions on using the website and system, hopefully ensuring a decent participation level, while student-athletes will be able to create their own personal athletic profiles.
You will also be able to sign up for alerts for your favorite team, sport or athlete.
The IHSAA last week endorsed Denver based VarVee as its official statistics gathering partner, beginning with fall sports, including soccer.
Through its website at www.varvee.com, VarVee will provide every member school with instructions on using the website and system, hopefully ensuring a decent participation level, while student-athletes will be able to create their own personal athletic profiles.
You will also be able to sign up for alerts for your favorite team, sport or athlete.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Golden chance for Silver Creek’s Hollkamp
Silver Creek sixth grader Grant Hollkamp has just been named on the Midwest Region 2 1997 (younger) team following an impressive performance at the Olympic Development Program camp in Kansas recently.
The Javanon U13 attaccking midfielder was part of a Kentucky team participating at Overland Park earlier in the month, where some 450 players represented 14 states.
The team lost its first game to Michigan, but finished strongly with wins against South Dakota, Missouri and Ohio.
Players who perform at a high level throughout the week are then asked to holdover for an additional four days of training as part of the regional pool. Hollkamp was one of 24 players selected on this team.
In total, he was in Kansas for 10 days and got to meet and play against some of the Midwest’s best talent, while also benefitting from the expertise of top coaches from Wisconsin, Iowa and Ohio.
The Region 2 squad will play in Orlando at the ODP Thanksgiving interregional event against Region 1 (northeast states), Region 3 (southern states) and Region 4 (western states). The team will also play games next spring in Virginia.
Hollkamp said it was a lot of fun to play against the best players at his age and he made a lot of new friends at an amazing venue.
“The new complex in Overland Park has 12 lighted, turf fields and cost $24 million. It was by far the nicest I have ever played on,” he said.
The players got to watch several World Cup games during the afternoon, and with Barcelona being his favorite club, and Andres Iniesta being his favorite player, it is no surprise to hear he was rooting for Spain to win the tournament after the US departed.
So can he put in an Iniesta type performance and help Region 2 emulate Spanish achievements in November? Hollkamp’s just happy to be there.
“I am really looking forward to playing the other three regional teams in Orlando at Thanksgiving and see how we do,” he said.
ODP is a national program which identifies and develops youth players to represent their state, region and, ultimately, country. ODP teams are formed with each of the 55 US Youth Soccer state associations and four regions.
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