5th Annual Girls All-Stars
It’s late so I’m going to keep this brief. Under a beautiful summer sun and night sky, the 6th Annual All-Star game drew the top seniors from the area and a very good crowd to Springfield Catholic High School. The game also drew a significant media presence as KY3, KOLR10/KSFX27 and KSPR33 were all in attendance. The News-Leader had two photographers and two reporters along with reporters and photographers from the Christian County Express, Republic Monitor and Lake-Sun Leader. I’ll find all of the stories as they are posted and point you to them here so come back often!
The game was taped by Mediacom who will broadcast it on Channel 22 later this week. Look for it on Thursday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 pm and again on Sunday at 1:00 pm. DVD’s will be available for purchase. More details as soon as I get them!
If you shot photos of the game and the event, I’d love to hear from you so that we can share them with others who will have an interest in your efforts. Contact me and we can arrange to post them or point others to them.
The efforts that Springfield Catholic High School and their Soccer Booster Club went to to provide a comfortable and enjoyable viewing experience were amazing. That included pulling power to support Mediacom’s ability to broadcast the game without a generator that would have distracted from the game. Turns out that the high heat probably had the air conditioners in the area going at high blast so the Boy’s game was interrupted with 20 minutes remaining when a transformer blew. The Boys voted to finish the game despite missing a bank of lights in to applause from the crowd. Thank you SCHS, State Champions and quality hosts. I vote we return in 2011. What do you think?
Cox Sports Medicine was represented by Dr Rusty Bond and two trainers including Charles Bower and they brought all of the tools of their trade to bear keeping the players prepared to play in the heat. It was the 5th year they have participated and it included stationing an ambulance near the field for the entire evening. Thank you!
The referees donated their time tonight and thanks go out to Andy Wilkinson and Patrick Burns who worked the center for the Boys and Girls game respectivley. AR’s included Todd McCutcheon and Jess McCutcheon, a 2008 All-Star herself as well as S Bollin. Thank you!
The game is brought to you by Springfield SC and SGFsoccer.com and the SSC and their partner J&K Soccer provided the tshirts that the players now have as souvenirs of their efforts. J&K also provided the game balls and tents to provide shade for the players, especially important during the early game. Bella!
I’m interested in knowing what you thought of the game, as a player or attendee. Please share your thoughts via the comment field at the bottom of this story. And do come back as I collect reports from around the area!
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- 5th Annual Girls All-Stars
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- SBU Coach Rob Podeyn with recruits Hemphill, Melugin & Marcotte
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- Southwest All-Star game
Steve,
Thanks or all you have done for the game in Springfield. I am thankful that I could watch my daughter and so many of her friends play one more time in a fun and relaxed environment. I will truely miss seeing her play!!!
Thanks,
Rob
Steve, I agree with Rob saying Thank you for all you do for soccer in Springfield.
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed with the game last night, or really the way the teams were compiled. It definitely appeared that the teams were stacked in such a way as to showcase the SSC seniors, and since they are a sponsor of this game, it’s obvious they put specific players together to win. Never before has Kickapoo, Glendale and Parkview (along with Rolla) been on the same side and never before has Ozark and Nixa been on the same side. But if those schools were split up, you couldn’t have stacked the team. This didn’t appear to be a fair match between 40 of the area’s best seniors but rather a match with one side being much more dominate because they are on the same club team. From now on, just advertise as an SSC senior event and players and fans will know what to expect.
Cindy – I’m a big fan of conspiracy theories myself but this one’s a no go. I am responsible for putting the teams together this year. I worked with the coaches and asked them to help put together the teams. The criteria we use has three key elements. First, the coach starts with their players, then we work to create equal teams while ensuring that schools are not split, eg all of the Glendale players are on the same team. Then we work to balance the teams by making adjustments. But ultimately I had final responsibility for the team lineups. Me. By myself. For the past week the majority of my time was spent tracking down players trying to confirm their participation. Oh, and did I mention there were two players who didn’t bother responding to multiple requests for registration/confirmation that they would participate? I should have sent them home but I was more concerned that there be substitutes so that the kids that did play wouldn’t be overstressed in the heat.
Do I need to add anymore? I probably due because it was the SSC parents and players who were on-site setting up at 4pm and at 10pm tearing down to ensure that all of the players had a safen enjoyable game. Rather than complaining, I’d prefer that your club would reach out and offer to make the game an even better opportunity to showcase the kids. That might even set a good example for your kids. What a concept!
BTW, did you notice there were three Clubs represented by MVP’s? Emily Boyer and Tyler Sevon played for SSC but Chris Aiken is SpringHigh and Elle Aston is MO Elite. Damn, no conspiracy there either is there…
I am not part of a club nor a parent of a player this year so to ask me to reach out is not really plausible. And if SSC sponsors this event they should be the ones setting up and tearing down. My opinion obviously doesnot count here.
and notice my first sentence – i did say thanks for all you do.
Your opinion counts. It’s on this website isn’t it? I can take it, so should you. I’m not part of a club but I’m contributing. Heck, not being part of a Club makes you more valuable because that means you don’t have an agenda focused on anything but the kids. Maybe the message didn’t come through – there was still an imbalance and that’s on me. I talked to the players and they had some good feedback that I need to take into account next year. I’ll do my best.
Ole, The event last night was very nice and I want to say Thank You to you and SCHS for hosting, players and parents for set up and all those who sponsored the game. Obviously it can be a thankless task. Watching the kids compete was very enjoyable and it looked like the players enjoyed themselves as well. I would also like to say thanks for covering young people’s soccer, including outside the Springfield area.
I don’t have the rosters in front of me but I know, in the Boys game at least, Glendale and Kickapoo were on opposite sides, Nixa and Ozark were on opposite sides I think Joplin,Catholic,Bolivar and Greenwood players were paired up with Kickapoo and Nixa. Willard and Waynesville and Camdenton were with Glendale and Ozark and I know I’m leaving out some schools. But I think if you looked at the Rosters before the game, you would not have expecteded the lopsided score.
Overall I thought the teams moved the ball pretty well and played good soccer considering it was the first time many had played together and especially in an All-Star game setting, which is typically not the most structured. Too bad we lost MediaCom after the transformer explosion. But what can you do.
I though it was an enjoyable evening.
A great big thankyou to everyone involved ,Ole, the refs, the coaches, springfield catholic , the players, the fans , the media, and the sponsors SSC ,Springfield soccer , and J&K soccer. It was a great evening seeing the players one last time.
I think the All Star game is a great concept and I appreciate what everyone does to promote the sport and help young players experience the game.
Thank you Steve, Catholic High, SSC and everyone involved.
I had a lot of fun playing with everyone! It was really good to have one last high school game, and to play with girls that I have played with since middle school! Thanks so much!
Sprouse
Everyone needs to just say Thank you and try not to think about this to deeply about the roster who got what just that everyone had a good time and to say thank you to those that made the effort to put it all together. The score in this game really doesn’t matter it was fun and now they are all done. Thank you for what you do and have done.
Hey, being on the Ladys side, I can tell you they had a great time. That is what this is all about, one last time getting all the senior ladys together. And listening to Coach N talk about sprouts on his sandwich. They are good I have to say.
Thanks for all of the coverage over the years, Steve. You do a great job of featuring players all around the region. The All-Star Game was a really fun experience for me, and I liked being on a team with girls I had actually played with and against in high school. I enjoyed having one last game with such a skilled group of girls. Thanks again for all you do!
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Thanks to all that helped with the all star game. thank ole for the coverage of soccer you do. my son TOADS older brother thanks you also. He live in Kansas city area and he kept up with the area soccer with what you do. Thanks again Mama Toad
Thank you, appreciate all your efforts. My son was one of the players who did not respond regarding his intension to play. Recovering from injuries, it was touch and go till game day as to whether he would be released for play. A special note of gratitude for allowing the opportunity. As to stacking teams, I’ve overheard adamant arguements for both yellow and red. Whatever. It was a wonderful evening!!