Get to know...Sporting Juniors

By: Betsy Pollard

Another season of youth soccer has wrapped up in The Sporting Juniors world.  We ended with two teams in Wisconsin competing in Regionals and two team in Texas competing in Playoffs and the Showcase. I traveled with the U18s and U16s to Frisco, TX for the Academy Playoffs and Showcase.

A lot of what we post is results but I would like to give you a small glimpse on items you may or may not know about Academy trip and interesting facts about our youth players.  In other words this post may bore you to death or you may find it interesting.

• The last hotel we stayed at was Aloft (shown on right) and it was a favorite amongst the players
• We always rent four 15-passenger vans once we land in our destination. Coach Rideout and Pardo usually drive the U18s, and Coach Parry and I drive the U16s
• Auxiliary cords are a MUST…thats the cord that goes from the van’s stereo to your iPod.
• Fruit chews are like GOLD, they are probably the most popular snack I purchase. A close second is the small Tangerines, sometimes referred to as “cuties.”  The snacks are usually in my room and the boys come and get snacks, water and Gatorade as they please.
• 8-10 cases of both Gatorade and water is a must
• The best way to pass time is playing Fifa on Xbox or renting Redbox movies
• I always learn a few new hip words on each trip or ways to use normal words in a hip way…a few this time was “fire” (see example below) and “shredding”
• For example, in the last U18s match Sporting Juniors “shredded” Chicago Magic or today the Juniors were just “shredding”!

Things you didn’t or maybe you did know about the U18s

• Tommy Adams is the supplier of the Xbox and eats a lot of meatballs whenever we get them for dinner
• Konner takes a lot of pride in keeping our bench cleaned when he is injured and unable to play
• Ray Lee never is referred to as just Ray…his full name is used almost always.  He usually has his clippers with him…in case you need a quick trim
• If we ever have a meal at Chipotle; Nick Row is the first to ask “can we get sour cream”?
• AB (Andrew Brown) is the most relaxed person/player I have ever been around -- very easy going except when Will is beating him in the “Sock Em” boxing game in the hotel lobby
• Kempin is a Pro… (maybe you already knew that)
• Marques (Mayoras) loves techno music and he just recently attend an eight hour rave
• Paul Oliver is one of the happiest people I have ever met who loves to eat tangerines
• “G” (Garret) loves shoes and probably has more shoes then most females which would include 15+ pairs of cleats alone
• Jordy hates bug as much as I do…especially June Bugs
• Kiwi (Andrew Mobberely) can break dance with his fingers (more on that later)
• Roms (Romeo Munoz) speaks Spanish on the field to Kiwi as Kiwi is from NZ but also speaks fluent Spanish
• Will (Witherspoon) loves heavy metal music.  He also isn’t afraid to throw out a free style rap line here and there

Things you didn’t or maybe you did know about the U16s

• Luke (Blackwell) is going to grow his hair out but not as long as it was (see photo) and he really wants to go to college on the East Coast
• DeJulio is the only player who started in all the games he played in.  He is also the captain of the team
• Daniel (Hare) made a big purchase of real Ray-Ban sunglasses this past weekend
• Hill (Ryan) has decided that he wants to be a Marine -- he is only going to be a junior in HS
• Leichty’s freekick was so “fire” against IMG.  This is the second time he has hit a “fire” freekick like that.
• Seo has the softest skin ever...I’m talking softer than a new born.  It is incredible
• Nate (Opperman) has a corky sense of humor and is so dang fast
• Jules (Ramirez) is a man of few words but likes apples just as much as I do
• Schrick is my co-pilot he always sits shotgun in my van and controls the Garmin
• Luke (Stanley) is a talented snow skier and like to wear dress socks under his shinguards and game socks

• Clay (Stewart) is the president of the make-believe gang called Swope Park Rangers (we get bored in airports…so funny things happen...like getting my eyebrows stringed)
• Tuso really wants to get his ear’s pierced
• Evan (Wright) thinks his GK Uniform of white jersey, white shorts and white socks makes him look like a cow
• Jacole can eat more than anyone I have ever seen…on the last day we went to In & Out and he had a 4x4; which is 4 beef patties and 4 pieces of cheese.
• Wes (White) has the best fo-hawk and plays better when his hair is done correctly
• Zembas just got a 35 out of 36 on his ACT (crazy smart)

Monday Recap

U13s: Heading into their third group match on four points, but in need of a positive result to assure a place in today's semifinal, Dustin Ottesen's side came out flying, hammering West Des Moines SC by a 6-0 scoreline. A hat trick performance from Jacob Weaver paced the U13s. Absalom Solorio and John Leisman were also on the scoresheet.

U15s: Coming off a 2-0 win over St. Louis Scott Gallagher and sitting on three points, the U15s entered their final group game yesterday needing a win and some help to progress to the knockout stages of their age division. Progression to the semifinal was not to be, however, as Sporting were held 1-1 by Ambassadors of Ohio North, finishing second place in the group.

U18s: With two wins already in the bag for the U18s at the Academy Showcase, the final match against the Chicago Magic provided one last chance for the players to demonstrate their abilities in front of a fair few college coaches and youth national team scouts. The Showcase, designed for teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs, has been a success for the U18s, and the side ended on a high note Monday, getting goals from Will Witherspoon, Tom Adams, Garrett Pulliam and Jordan Rideout on the way to a 4-1 victory.

Spring Showcase Quick Facts

• 258 games completed over 5 days
• 4,000 players competed
• 118 referees
• 300 college coaches attended the matches (we probably had 30+at each match)
  
• Competition took place on 20 different fields
• Every player participated in the Nike SPARQ testing and
• Gatorade Fluid lost test-they weigh in the players before and after a match (U18s Michael Oakley lost 10lbs. in one 90min match...INCREDIBLE)
• Our very own Bob Gansler was there to scout games for USSF and to address the players who watched the US MNT match on May 29th in the players lounge

Summer Showcase-Sarasota FL

Last weekend, which was Memorial Day weekend, our U18s and U16s head to FL for their second showcase of the season. The games we play at the showcases count to our overall total, but they are all out of conference matches. Overall both teams "showed" quite well. The heat and humidity was unbelievable the entire time which made the last matches on Tuesday June 1st the toughest.

After a tough evening of travel on Friday, May 28th (arriving at the hotel at 12am) they had to wake up for games that started at 9am (U18s) and 11am (U16s) against Oakwood SC out of Conn. The U18s wons 2-1 and the U16s followed up by winning 3-0.

Saturday evening, after the matches and after the temp went down, they headed to beach for a quick swim and cool down. That evening was the start of various meeting that also took place at the Showcase. We learned that two new teams from Minnesota would be in our conference next year, that Chicago Teams would be leaving our conference and that next years Spring Showcase will be in Dallas among other rule changes and updates.

Sunday was a day off for our team except for a quick trip to the field for Nike SPARQ testing. Which was only an hour, but is was at 8:30am. The boys tested well and had the rest of the day to rest, hydrate and play video games.

On Monday, May 31st we played California Development academy at 1pm (U18s) and 3pm (U16s)...pretty much the hottest part of the day. The team again preformed well and the U18s came away with a victory 1-0 and the U16s tied 0-0. That evening we stayed close to the hotel and had dinner at Ruby Tuesdays, then head to bed early since there was early morning games.

On Tuesday both teams played at 9am against Baltimore Bays Chelsea and exhaustion really set in during the match. The U16s and the u18s both lost 1-3 and Baltimore had the day off before and was looking quite fresh (Lucky then)...buts lets not make excuses.

The U18s season is now over and the new season with new players will really get going after HS soccer is over. The U16s still have a small chance to make the tournament finals which would take place June 22- 26th in Greensboro NC. After this weekend we should know who is in and who is out.