Tag Archives: Nick Schmitt

Representing Southwest Missouri Soccer in College

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OK, I’ve been busy around here but I have to admit to needing some help as well.

Check out the newest page on the website – College Players

I’m attempting to maintain a spreadsheet so that I can ensure I touch bases on each of the players and programs out there during the upcoming season. So here’s where I could use your help:
1. Check out the list (sorted by High School, far right column) and if you don’t see your favorite player on the list, send me updated information!
2. If you run a team website, consider an occasional report similar to what Coach Schmitt has done on the West Plains Zizzer’s website. Zizzers Playing College Soccer!

You can keep your team and boosters up-to-date and I in turn can point to it and generate some traffic for your website. And please don’t take it personally if you don’t find your favorite player on the list initially. There are 131 names on the list, it’s quite a task just compiling it to this extent. Now help me make it better :)

Three Classes For Girls Soccer in 2009

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This story has been contributed at my request by Coach Nick Schmitt, West Plains Zizzers.
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In the Spring of 2009, Girls High School Soccer in Missouri will expand to 3 classes. Why is this happening? Do we really need three classes? What does it mean for the schools in Southwest Missouri?

    Why are we going to have three classes in Girls Soccer in 2009?

It is all pretty simple really. Because the number of schools participating in girls soccer continues to grow, a third State Championship Class will be added.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association determines the number of classes in each sport or activity based on the number of schools registered for that sport or activity. There is a maximum of 5 Classes except for Football. For safety purposes, schools shall be divided in six Classes in 11-man Football. The MSHSAA uses the following numbers to determine the number of classes in an activity:

128 or fewer schools - 1 Class
129-192 schools - 2 Classes
193-256 schools - 3 Classes
257-513 schools - 4 Classes
514 or more schools - 5 Classes

From 1985 (the first year the MSHSAA sponsored a State Championship in Girls Soccer) through 1998, there was only one class in Girls Soccer. Every school regardless of their size competed for one State Championship. By 1998, the number of schools participating in Girls Soccer passed the 129 mark and Girls Soccer was split into two classes from 1999 through 2008. For 2008 there were 199 schools registered for Girls soccer, 6 more than the 193 required to have 3 classes. We will add another 4 school with girls soccer in 2009 in Southwest Missouri alone (Branson, Carl Junction, Carthage, and Logan-Rogersville). So with a new two-year classification cycle beginning, Girls Soccer will expand to 3 classes just like the boys.

    Do we really need three classes?

Some people argue that adding classes lessens the accomplishment of becoming a State Champion. To quote one poster on www.Stlsoccer.net

6 classes for football is a joke. Only 32 schools are in class 6 for the entire state. I hope that soccer never goes for such insanity. It is bad enough with 3 classes. In football, we have 6 different champions. This trend in America of lessening the importance of achievement is not a good long-term trend. Winning needs to be meaningful and not just granted.”

In Arkansas, where soccer has been a sanctioned sport since 1998, they now have 4 classes in soccer. In 2008, there were 75 boys teams and 70 girls teams competing for 4 State Championships each. Does it lessen the accomplishment of a State Championship or does it make for a more level playing field.

According to the MSHSAA Constitution, Article II Section 1: Philosophy, “Interscholastic activities are an integral part which complements the secondary curricular program. This program shall provide educational and social experiences for the students and school community which result in positive learner outcomes contributing to the development of good citizenship, sportsmanship and equitable competition.”

Equitable can be defined as: characterized by equity or fairness. Is it fair for a school with an adjusted enrollment figure of 134 to have to compete for a State Championship against a school with an enrollment figure of 1200? Not really. But that is how it would be if we didn’t add a third class in Girls Soccer. So adding classes helps to make things more equitable for all schools and provides the opportunity for more student/athletes to compete for a State Championship.

In some states, there is a call to reduce the number of classes. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, in Indiana they are surveying members about scaling back from 4 Classes to 3 Classes in basketball.

“Since the expansion in the 1997-98 season, schools have experienced problems with travel distances, transportation costs, revenue, sectional brackets and alignments—and fan interest.”

Will we have the same impact with Girls Soccer? I can’t say for sure one way or the other. But with more and more schools adding the sport, I think there are enough schools in most areas that adding a class isn’t going to effect travel a great deal for most schools.

    What does it mean for Southwest Missouri?

The enrollment numbers for all schools are taken every two years for re-classification purposes. Enrollment numbers are taken the last Wednesday of September in odd numbered years (2007) and are used to determine the classes for the following two years. Non-public school enrollments are multiplied by a 1.35 adjustment factor. Single gender school enrollments are doubled (nonpublic schools would then be multiplied by 1.35). The top 96 schools are in class 3. In that 96 are schools that don’t play soccer and single gender schools. They still count in the 96. It isn’t the largest 96 soccer playing schools. The next 96 are in Class 2 and the rest are in class 1.

What does that mean for Southwest Missouri? In 2008, there were Two Class 2 Districts made up of 6 teams each, one Class 1 District with 9 schools. Another Class 1 District has 4 schools (Dixon, Laquey, Richland, St. James) which could be considered part of Southwest Missouri. This makes a total of 25 schools. Add in the 4 new schools that begin play next year and you have 29 schools in our region. Nobody except the MSHSAA can say for sure what will happen as far as District Assignments, but here is a good guess. Not only will we change to 3 classes, but some schools with move because of their enrollment numbers. The enrollment breaks for the next 2-year cycle are:

Class 3 = 1203 and above
Class 2 = 578-1202
Class 1 = 577 and below

For a complete listing of school enrollments visit the MSHSAA website http://www.mshsaa.org/Activities/Info/Gymnastics_News_Gymnastics_content.aspx?viewmode=story&storyid=27

Class 3 – will include the following schools:

Branson (new program), Carthage (new program), Central, Glendale, Hillcrest, Joplin, Kickapoo, Lebanon, Neosho, Nixa, Ozark, Parkview, Rolla, Waynesville, Willard (moving up from small class)

Class 3 will be the most interesting to watch. With 15 schools, they could be divided with 7 schools in one district and 8 schools in the other. Another possibility would be to move a school to another district (Rolla to Central Missouri joining Camdenton, Jeff City, Smith-Cotton, Rock Bridge and Hickman). Another possibility would be to divide the schools into 3 districts. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. (Note: the same thing will happen with the boys as in Class 3 as Carthage and Willard will move up from Class 2 and Branson will be a new program – so we should see how this plays out in August)

Class 2 – will include the following schools

Bolivar, Carl Junction (new program), Logan-Rogersville (new program), Marshfield, St. James (Could go to a district toward St. Louis), West Plains

With class 2, I would assume that we will only have 8 districts like the boys, but how that shakes out is anyone’s guess. Will we have a 5 or 6 team district in Southwest Missouri? Some new teams will get their shot at winning a District Championship as Catholic who has won the last 6 District Titles will be in the smaller class.

Class 1 – will include the following schools

Dixon (could go to a district toward Central Missouri), Greenwood, Laquey (could go to a district toward Central Missouri), Liberty (Mountain View), McAuley, Pleasant Hope,
Richland (could go to a district toward Central Missouri), Springfield Catholic

With class 1, I would also assume that we will only have 8 districts like the boys, but we’ll have to wait and see. How many teams will be grouped here will be the big question.

I think going to Three Classes for Girls Soccer is a good thing. It gives more teams the opportunity to pursue District and State Championships. For now we will all have to wait to see how the MSHSAA sorts out the District Assignments. For those of you who weren’t sure what was happening, I hope this shed’s a little light on the subject. If you are curious as to where I got most of this information, it is available in the MSHSAA Handbook which can be found on the MSHSAA website www.mshsaa.org.

    What about Conference affiliation?

The MSHSAA doesn’t control Conference affiliation, but I think they consider Conference affiliation somewhat when making district assignments.

Will it cause a problem scheduling schools in the Districts? Is it that important to play all the teams in your District? At West Plains we don’t play most schools that are currently in our District, but our Conference schedule does a great job of preparing us for District Play, so playing everyone in the District isn’t a necessity, although it does help being familiar with an opponent.

Will a change in classes have any effect on Conference affiliation? I don’t know. There is always some talk about conferences changing, but it doesn’t always happen. Most recently we have seen the Central Ozark Conference expand to 15 teams (Not all of them play soccer) which will allow them to have an official Conference Champion in soccer for the first time this fall.

Adding a Class in soccer probably won’t affect Conference affiliations, but changing enrollments could be something that effect things. Schools on the fringe or that find drastic changes in their enrollments could change or be forced to change Conferences. When looking at Conference affiliation, you have to look at the big picture. Right now I think the Conferences as they are now seem to be a pretty good fit as far as schools being competitive. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens in the next few years.
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Thanks to Coach Schmitt for his contribution. He is also in the process of writing “In Pursuit Of A Championship: The History of High School Soccer in Southwest Missouri” – due out Spring 2009

http://www.pursuitofachampionship.info – Book Website
http://zizzersoccer.com – HS Soccer Website

Tom Davidson, Ozark Tigers, Reaches 500 Wins

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Davidson's 500th Win - Ozark over Springfield Catholic

I’ll be back with Nick Schmitt’s article by dinner time. Game pictures have been posted.

Tom Davidson – A Family Man and a Man of Passion

Tom Davidson grew up in Colorado, Springs, CO. He played soccer in high school and his Dad was his coach. Tom played sweeper a little bit in high school. “I always preferred playing in the back. I liked watching the game. But he also played center midfield and forward. “It gave me a different perspective just being able to play all over the field.”

Tom played soccer at Missouri Southern from 1984-1988. In College the coach ended up playing a 4-3-3 and Tom ended up playing Left Forward. “I played with a guy that was the Center Forward that was at the time, our all-time leading scorer at Southern. His name was Mike Bryson and he taught me a lot about just how to play forward. What to do and where to go and that kind of stuff. We had pretty good Chemistry. That’s where I ended up playing, basically my whole career.” The next two seasons Davidson helped coach the team under the direction of Jack Spurlin and Scott Poertner. The spring of 1991 proved to be a very eventful one for Tom. He got engaged to his wife Missy and also graduated from Missouri Southern.

Although it was time for Tom to move on, Missy had another year left in college. But things worked out. The Head Soccer Coaching position came open at Kickapoo High School in Springfield. Tom was hired in June to become the second Head Soccer Coach at Kickapoo, taking over for Jose Florez who started the program in 1984. Things worked out great as Tom and Missy would be just an hour away.

I asked Tom, “What do you remember from your first year as a coach?”

Coach Davidson“I think you come out and you really think that you kind of know quite a bit about the game and about kids and stuff and I don’t think you do. That first year, I had a real talented team. I had a couple of kids that went to Drury that year. Brett Ulrich who is now my assistant coach at Ozark, he played forward for us that year. He was a Senior. He went to Missouri Southern. We were very talented. We had a good goalkeeper. But my biggest challenge was the parents. I felt, ‘hey, I could run the show pretty well’ and they had been use to running the show. The challenge of breaking that cycle was probably my biggest challenge.”

“I just remember that first couple of games kind of having this preconceived notion in your head, how it was suppose to be. And it really wasn’t like that. Those are some of the things I remember. The District tournament that year was held at Lake Country and it was brutally cold. There were only 8 teams in the area (in Class 4A) so we had an 8-team District. And you seeded 1-8 and it was 5 Springfield Schools, Joplin, Carthage, and I think Neosho. We got seeded second and then made it to the Final and then lost to Glendale in the Final that very first year. They had a good team. That was Chris Hendricks and Ty Keisker. That was a good team, too (Glendale went to the Final 4 that year).

That rivalry, it was so great to be involved with all those years. It started right after that. I had a lot of good times. Mike Hines was with me that 1st year.

The success would continue for Davidson as he continued to build on the Kickapoo tradition. In 1995, his team captured the first of six District Titles under his leadership and advanced to the State Quarterfinal, losing just three games in the process. In 1996, however a very talented Chiefs team made history by reaching the Final Four and finishing in a tie for 3rd Place. Tom’s top memory from coaching came in 1996 in the State Quarterfinal against Columbia Hickman. “They had beat us 3 weeks earlier in the regular season. They had beaten us 5-0. So just overcoming all those odds, It’s still one of those classic moments. Us being up 2-0, and then them coming back and tying it. It went to 12 Penalty Kicks. I’ll never forget any of that. Kickapoo won the Penalty Kick Shootout 10-9.

Kiley Cirillo, Missouri Southern Lions Head Coach, was a Senior on the 1996 Kickapoo team. Kiley (pictured below at an MSSU game last Fall) shared these thoughts on Coach Davidson:

Missouri Southern Lions vs Harding Bison“I think that the best way to describe Coach D is Integrity and the courage to keep that integrity in the face of adversity. I can remember Coach D was always willing to choose truth over popularity. Coach D was always willing to teach mistakes and never discouraged making them as long as we could learn to take the lessons from them. He pushed us out of our comfort zones only to help us feel comfort there.

Coach has and continues to have a huge influence on my life. He is still there if I need him and I know that he will always be willing to listen and give advice, but he also is never afraid to tell me that he does not have the answer and that is one of the things I admire most. He is okay with not knowing it all.

I think he coaches to be a better man, person, friend, mentor, leader and failure and these are the choices that he has taught me to measure my life by. Thank you Coach Davidson and congratulations on your 500th win.

Although 1996 provided the best finish for his boys teams, that wasn’t the end all. In addition to making it to the Final Four in 1996, Davidson’s Chiefs won 8 Ozark Conference Championships, 6 District Championships, made 4 State Quarterfinal appearances and compiled a 265-105-41 record in 16 seasons.

Kickapoo Lady Chiefs Final Four Team, 2002As successful as the boys program was at Kickapoo under Davidson’s leadership, the girls program was even more successful. Tom began coaching the girls in 1995, when the Springfield schools began playing games against each other. In 1996, the teams started play under MSHSAA guidelines and began competing in District play. In 12 seasons of MSHSAA sanctioned play, Kickapoo reached the District Final every season and won 9 District Championships. Former Lady Chief, Kaysie Griffin, had this to say about her former leader:

“I played for Coach at Kickapoo High School from 1998 to 2001. I started Varsity for him all 4 years. I have had a ton of coaches in my day, by far Davidson is the best Coach I have ever had! He helped shape me not only as a player but as a person also. Its an honor to be his assistant coach at Ozark. I’m learning how to be a good Coach by the best coach in Missouri.”

In 2002, the Lady Chiefs matched the success of the boys with their own memorable State Quarterfinal on their own magical run to the Final Four. “The Girls Quarterfinal game in 2002 when we beat Rockwood Summit was just….. I remember turning to my assistant coach, Jena Knopf, and when the last whistle blew and I turned and I said ‘We’re going to the Final Four. I mean we’re going.’ It was just one of those surreal moments when just….even driving up there I remember thinking, ‘Keep the game close’. But our girls just played out of their minds that day. And then, we didn’t have a great experience when we got to the Final Four, but……”

As Head Coach of the Kickapoo girls program, Davidson lead the Lady Chiefs to a 217-67-22 record in 12 seasons including 6 Ozark Conference Championships, 9 District Championships, 3 State Quarterfinal appearances, and 1 trip to the Final Four..

Nick Schmitt: “What are some of your other top memories?”
Tom Davidson: “I remember several of the Glendale games. I’ll never forget Jack Jewsbury’s sophomore year which was that ’96 team. Glendale had beaten us 2 years previous (1994) in the
District Final and we ended up winning that game 2-0. Just played an outstanding game.”

KC Wizards Exhibition against Missouri State BearsJack Jewsbury (pictured), who now plays for the Kansas City Wizards, offered these words about Coach Davidson and what he has meant to him:

“To me, Coach Davidson has not only been good coach on the field, but has also been a great friend off it. He is someone that has taken his passion for soccer and spread that love for the game to myself and all the kids that have passed through his programs. He continues to be successful no matter what challenges he faces and I want to congratulate him for reaching this amazing accomplishment.”

The spring of 2007 brought some news that came as a surprise to some people. Tom Davidson left Kickapoo High School to become the Head Soccer Coach at Ozark. “One of the reasons I moved to Ozark, my big reason was family. If anybody knows, I’m a big family man. That was the big reason was my family. I want to be able to say ‘ Hey. This guy was a well rounded guy. He didn’t neglect his family as he was doing all these things and helping so many people out.’

Although Tom has changed his colors and location, little else has changed. His first Tigers team finished 16-8-0. Entering his 30th season this spring, Tom has never had a losing season.

NS: “What do you think has made you successful as a coach?”
TD: “To me, I think I’m good to the kids. And I think I kind of figure out what makes them tick. I’m not a great motivator, I don’t think, but they trust me. I think that, especially with girls, that’s a big part of it. If they trust you, they’re gonna play hard for you. I’ve always felt like that’s what we’ve
done. We’ve always tried to treat kids fairly too. And I think kids really understand that. Parents don’t understand that sometimes. But kids understand that ‘Hey, he’s just trying to help me. He’s trying to treat me fairly.

NS: “When you first started, did you ever think you would win 500 games?”
TD: “No. I remember saying to somebody several years ago, ‘I’ll never be that guy that has coached for 20-25 years. At some point in time I’ll of just had enough.’ And now, I don’t see an end in sight. My son is in kindergarten and my goal is to at least get him to graduate high school 11-12 years
from now. But if I continue to enjoy what I’m doing, then I don’t see a reason to stop doing it unless I’m just completely neglecting my family.”

MO Class 2 Sectional: Kickapoo Chiefs vs Rolla BulldogsNS: “What does 500 victories mean to you?”
TD: “I obviously have been thinking about it a lot. I started really thinking about it this fall. Because when it became kind of a reality this fall, I really started thinking about it. I think it’s more than anything, it’s about all those kids that took what we had to offer and were successful with it. And all those great moments that I had with kids that we were able to achieve something together. And when I look back on it now, it’s all those battles we had with other coaches and other programs and some of those nights that you think that you got out-coached, but you still won the game. Or you out-coached the other guy and that was satisfying too. But I think more than anything, as I started reflecting on it this fall, I started reflecting on all the faces and all the people that had gone through my program for all those years, boys and girls.

NS: “Anything you want to say to the soccer community?”
TD: “Especially here in the Springfield area, we need to continue to grow the sport and continue to have more kids playing and more clubs come about. And include more of the area. Those things, we should be able to, our community, I’m talking about our whole…all the way down to where you guys are (West Plains) and everything, our whole community here in Southwest Missouri, should be able, there’s enough people living here now, that our sport should be able to have a few club teams. And have a
league, when the kids get to high school and not have to funnel everybody into one competitive league. Because in high school that waters down the high school programs if there’s less kids playing club ball. We’re to that point right now, where we should have lots of kids playing. I should here at Ozark. You should at West Plains and Mike (Howard) at Rolla and Mike (Gow) at Lebanon. Everybody should have 8 or 10 club players that are playing for them that are good players. We’re getting to the point where we’re growing where that’s a possibility. I would like to see that grow, because it only helps all of us.

NS: “Any thing we have missed?”
TD: ”To my wife Missy. All the success I have in my career is because you have always stood by me. It’s your unconditional love that has made me the man I am today. Your unwavering support has let me pursue one of my passions in life. Coaching has taught me many things about how to treat people and motivate them. I could not have done this without you helping along the way. You are my rock and I’m so thankful the Lord has put you on my TEAM. You and our family are my dreams come true.”

Tom. In writing this article, it has become quite obvious to me that you have meant as much to the people whose lives you have touched as they have meant to you. You have meant so much to this community and we are the better for you being here. Congratulations on 500 victories!
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The story above is an abridged version of an in-depth interview that West Plains Coach, and History teacher, Nick Schmitt conducted with Tom Davidson earlier this month in anticipation of reaching 500 wins. The complete interview will be available as part of Schmitt’s book, tentatively titled “Pursuit of a Championship: The History of High School Soccer in Southwest Missouri” which he hopes to have available in the Spring of 2009. Thanks to Coach Schmitt for sharing it with my readers.

This Week In Springfield Missouri Soccer

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Activity is beginning to heat up around the area, despite Mother Nature’s lack of cooperation. Time to get back into the swing of things, including stocking my Toyota Tacoma with Soccer Mom prerequisites – lawn chair, fleece blanket, sun screen, umbrella, you know the drill. I’ve got to get my camera and video camera prepped as well, so it should be a busy week.

The primary reason for renewing this activity is that the college squads are beginning their Spring exhibition schedules already. The Drury Panther Ladies played the Arkansas State Indians yesterday in Jonesboro (they lost 1-2). This Wednesday the men will play host to a pair of teams. At 5pm 4:30 pm, Division I Oral Roberts University will take the field, followed at 7:30 pm by Missouri Science & Technology (or S&T, formerly known as UMR), a member of the GLVC. Join us at Harrison Stadium for one or both of the games.

Update – Missouri State Lady Bears beat the Kansas Jayhawks 1-0 on Saturday.

We are less than two weeks away from the start of the High School Girls season. The Rolla Bulldogs host an early tournament on Friday March 21 – Saturday March 22 that includes Springfield Catholic, Columbia Hickman and Washington. The #1 ranked Kickapoo Chiefs host Bentonville (AR) on Monday March 24th. The first Ozark Conference game will follow that Wednesday when the Chiefs travel to Lebanon to face the Yellowjackets. You can follow the Ozark Conference race on Nick Schmitt’s Zizzer Soccer site all season long.

I’m working on collecting the schedules for all of the area teams, as well as the rosters. I’m already working to identify Senior All-Stars for this years game. Add Thursday June 19th to your calendar, you’ll be surprised how quickly the date will arrive. I know I always am :)

Finally, my Soccer Calendar is the best way I know of to stay on top of the games in the region and on the tube. There’s even a way to download it into your calendar. If your team would like to add that capability to their website, contact me and I’d be happy to help you add it.