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I want every person who reads this to take a second and leave a thought today. The focus is 100 percent on you today.
What will you remember from the 2009 season?
It might be your favorite player scoring the game-winning goal or seeing your favorite player come back from an injury. You may have made new friendships or just enjoyed being a part of the ride. Here is your chance to give the spotlight to whomever you want. There are thousands of good players, coaches, refs, volunteers, ball runners, school officials and yes, even IHSA officials.
All it takes is one second today to give someone some overdue praise.
And I'll be the first person to start kudos line...
I want to thank every volunteer who helped with the 2008-2009 Pepsi Showdowns. I tell one of the key people I work with every year, Lynn Magnesen, that my goal each tournament is to personally shake the hands and say thanks to every person who volunteers - every ball runner, every parent and every community service. Every year, I come close to pulling this off, but something else always seems to pop up.
And I also want to thank you, the reader. At the end of the day, you are the ultimate boss.
***NOTE: This photo goes with Berna Gaul's comment from May 29, 2009 at 11:08 AM below... Bottom row: Jenny Butler (Highpoint), Leah Fortune (Texas), Vanessa DiBernardo (Illinois); Second row: Claire Hanold (DePaul), Jessie Arabia (Marist), Alexa Gaul (Texas), Brynne Miller; Third row: Heather Marik (Clemson), Rachel DellaTorre, Rachel Bostick (Illinois State), Kiki McClellan (Northern Iowa), Bri Rodriguez (West Virginia); Coaches: Brian Butler, Hudson Fortune, Mary Rodriguez
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I would like to thank Mike Mural for giving my kids the love of the game. They have since moved on from his club but they all left loving the sport that I love and love to watch them play. Thanks Mike
We would like to thank Pat Feulner for the effort, sweat, tears and love that he put into the St. Charles East girls soccer program. He left it a much stronger program than the one he inherited 7 years ago. We will miss him very much but wish him the best of luck at Matea Valley. Though he briefly touched the soccer lives of our son and younger daughter, our older daughter was able to play for him for seven years, between club and high school. She and we will never forget him.
I would like to thank Richards High School coach Julie Strelka for getting the Varsity girls team to the schools first ever regional title, and playing for the sectional title today. The team has come together, lead by their coach, to beat 2 higher seeded opponents in the last 2 games. Great job coach.
I would like to give kudos to a very special man and coach who assembled and took under his wing, a group of 5 year old girls back in 1996. He formed the U-6 Team Chicago Pink Pizazz. Hudson Fortune taught them the "Beautiful game", the Brazillian style of play, how to make moves which they still incorporate in their game today. Hudson developed their skills at a very early age and made playing the game FUN! Most importantly, he instilled the love and passion for soccer in these girls.
I would like to give a congradulations to Neuqua Valley Girls Soccer Leader, Megan Oyster! She is an amazing player, student, and overall person. Her dedication to the game and to her teammates is over the top! Being just 15, she already had practiced with the national team! I know that you probably don't usually hear from a teen's perspective, but she is just amazing! Congrats to her and her Upstate Eight Champion Team, the Neuqua Valley Wildcats!
Hey Joe,
Barrington and Fremd keep the bus going. Congrats on the MSL. It still shows that the Northwest suburbs have something to prove. Good luck girls.
I would like to recognize Julie Bergstrom and her Waubonsie teams the past three years. Her teams have raised the bar for girl's soccer. They showed us that you can win by possessing the ball,linking passes and playing beautiful soccer. Prior to Waubonsie, I was not convinced that this style of soccer could beat the long ball style that most teams were playing at the time. If imitation is the sincerest form a flattery than, more teams than ever before owe thanks to Julie and her Warriors for showing them how the game could be played.
Great Run!!
Hey Joe. How about some Mid Suburban League Soccer coverage. Three of the final eight teams that are still playing are all from the same division in the Mid Suburban League. I would say that they deserve some press!
Soccer FanDude brings up a good point for a few reasons...how is it that the IHSA can separate the MSL West division so that 3 teams go not only to different regionals, but sectionals none-the-less and 2 even would not meet until state, however, you go to some other sectionals and you have tons of teams that play each other in the same conference or division slugging it out... DOn't get me wrong, Conant, Barrington, and Fremd are all deserving of being there...but again, make it even IHSA if the MSL has 3 of 8 remaining, but other conferences were ALL in the same regional and/or sectionals...just doesn't make sense...don't even have a chance of getting more than 1 out there...
I want to add to the comment about thanking Julie Bergstrom. The girls at Waubonsie played soccer and played it the way it was supposed to be played. They looked to connect and be creative and show a style of soccer that is fading quick in the women's high school game. I have seen too many talented teams look to dump and run as they are afraid to really play and the kids are losing out. Congratulations to Naperville North and Brent Terada and their sectional win, and I can only hope that some "real" soccer is played at the state tournament. I also want to thank every coach that is out there doing the right thing and developing talent and teaching the game. They are few and far between lately and at the end, what are those girls getting out of it? To have the courage to play soccer and not just try to survive and win is important and I think there was a failure amongst many coaches to do what is best for their players and instead did what was best for them. Funny thing is if you look none of those teams are left. Congratulations to all the sectional champions and good luck!!!
I'm here to praise those coaches and teams that see the "bigger picture" about the high school season ( and this applies to almost all high school sports). And that it : A) Should be for fun B) It should be about improving the TEAM each week during the season and not just about winning games during the season. C) That when the playoffs start every team starts off 0-0-0 and every team makes the playoffs.
I think there are really a lot of good teams out there and a lot of "talent equity". But there's a lot of teams with a lot of wins under their belt and talented players that won't be playing next week. I think that the ones that still will be playing are the ones that learned something from their losses and grew the most as a team each week.
Joe,
I'd like throw Kudos to one of my main rivals, Manteno Coach Jake Emerson. Jake took his team to the top of Class A and to an undefeated season. During the season, he lost his best player to a season ending injury but the panthers continued to survive and win games. He lost another starter in the playoffs and his team continued to win. A nice bit of coaching Jake.
Joe,
I would like to thank Craig Snower. He has done so much building the Loyola soccer program. This year, he took our young team, recognized each of their strengths, had two a day training and praised and encouraged his team.
He gives countless hours to the Loyola Girls program, the New Trier boys program and FC United Club. He truly cares about his players and parents. He is outstanding!!!
Craig is good. He also may be the loudest coach in the state. I say that tongue and cheek.