SOUNDERS U23 CONTINUES THE MISSION OF MOVING PLAYERS UP
On Sunday afternoon, March 29, Clement Simonin started for Toronto FC in their regular season MLS match versus Real Salt Lake. Simonin started and played 90 minutes in the loss but relishes the opportunity after working hard at NC State and with the Sounders U23 in 2014.
“The chance I had to get drafted in the first round of the draft comes mostly from my experience with the Sounders U23, explained Simonin. I got the opportunity to play in a very special and competitive environment every day in training and games.”
On Sunday evening, Darwin Jones suited up for S2, the Sounders FC USL team. Jones, the former Sounders U23 and Sounders FC home grown player, scored a hat trick to down the Vancouver Whitecaps USL side. Jones started as a youth premier player at Highline Premier FC, a club run previously by current Sounders U23 GM/Head Coach Darren Sawatzky, before moving to Washington Premier FC and eventually into the Sounders FC Academy. Simonin and Jones are part of a long list of Sounders U23 players that have made the jump from the Premier Development League (PDL) team to the professional ranks. The Sounders U23 is an independently owned club team operated by owners Lane Smith, Cliff McElroy, and Mike Jennings. The team is managed and coached by Sawatzky who also ran the Sounders FC Academy from 2008 through 2014.
“Helping players move from our PDL program to the professional leagues in this country and abroad is something we take great pride in,” explained Lane Smith, co-owner. “We want to win games, but we know our place in the developmental pyramid and we love seeing DeAndre (Yedlin) at the World Cup and more recently, Clement start for Toronto.”
The Sounders U23 started in 2012, after taking over for the Tacoma Tide in the PDL. Since the 2012 season where the Sounders U23 won the Northwest Division title, the Western Conference Championship, and eventually lost in the national semifinals to FC London, 28 players have been drafted into MLS or signed professional contracts in the US or abroad. Currently, Jeff Caldwell and Jordan Morris were called into the US Men’s National U20 and U23 teams respectively. Both players played roles last summer for Sounders U23 and are slated to return in 2015. Morris was invited this week to the full national team after his goal and assist for the U23’s last week versus Bosnia.
“Players need the opportunity to be challenged in order to grow and develop. The northwest division in the PDL has a pro team, two MLS affiliate teams, and very organized independent clubs that make it very competitive,” added Sawatzk. “With the training and game competition, this is a great place to help the players add the final pieces before they jump to the professional ranks.”
DeAndre Yedlin, Sean Okoli, Aaron Kovar, and Darwin Jones have all signed home grown contracts with Sounders FC and all played significant roles in the Sounders U23 team. Yedlin has since sky rocketed to the US National Team and a transfer to Tottenham in the English Premier League. Yedlin played every minute of the 2012 PDL Season for Sounders U23. Okoli was traded this year to New England and played against Sounders FC in the MLS mach earlier this month. Kovar and Jones continue to shine for both the Sounders FC first team and the S2 USL side. Kovar impressed with his recent performance against Club Tijuana Xolos then played against FC Dallas in the MLS fixture a few days later.
Many other Sounders U23 players have made the leap through the MLS draft. Fernando Monge (Montreal) led the early charge in 2012, with Sean Morris (Seattle/Auckland FC-Australia), Aodhan Quinn (Philadelphia/Orlando City-USL), Eric Stevenson (NYRB), Taylor Peay (Portland), Anthony Arena (Houston/Pittsburgh-USL), Earl Edwards (Orlando City), Simonin (Toronto), Lucas Baldin (Real Salt Lake), Miguel Aguilar (DC United), and Doug Herrick (MLS League GK/Charlotte Eagles-USL/Guam National team) finding homes in the professional game.
Not every player makes the complete transition to MLS, but they have used the Sounders U23 team as a catalyst to the next level in the other professional leagues offered in the US. Jamael Cox (Tampa-NASL), Josh Phillips (Colorado Switchbacks-USL), Adam West (Louisville City-USL), Zac Lubin (Tulsa-USL), David Geno (Charlotte Eagles-USL), Oscar Jimenez (Tulsa-USL), Miguel Gonzalez (Colorado Switchbacks-USL), Zev Taublieb (Sacramento-USL), and Jake Feener (Tulsa-USL) have all played for the Sounders U23 and Sawatzky, before leaving for the next level.
Finally, the road less traveled is also represented well for Sounders U23. Yedlin headlines the players and is currently playing in England, while Derek Johnson and Miles Byass both accepted contracts and played in Sweden. Chris Brundage played for two professional seasons in Finland and Abdul Aman is currently in Fiji playing for Fiji Suva.
“Our goal with the Sounders U23 team is player’s first,” explains Cliff McElroy co-owner. “We do everything we can to help them grow and move on to the highest levels of the game. We hope they all make it out in front of 45,000 fans at Century Link, but if they do not, we want them to chase their careers.”
The 2015 Sounders U23 PDL season starts on May 24 when they host the newest member of the Northwest Division: Calgary Foothills. Come watch the future of professional soccer in the United States and Canada as the young guns bring their fight for another PDL summer.
RAINIERS WELCOME AWARD WINNING RED HOT TO CHENEY STADIUM
The Tacoma Rainiers have officially welcomed The Red Hot as the newest addition to the club’s 2015 food and beverage lineup. The popular Tacoma-based hot dog eatery will make its Cheney Stadium debut when the Rainiers begin their season-opening homestand at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 17.
The Red Hot’s stadium location will reside along the home plate side of Cheney’s main concourse area and will be open during each of the team’s 72 scheduled home games, as well as select concerts, festivals and other specialty events hosted at the ballpark throughout the year.
“Once we sat down, tasted hot dogs, and met Chris and Stu, this decision became a no brainer,” said Team President Aaron Artman. “We are thrilled to have The Red Hot at Cheney Stadium.”
The Red Hot plans to emphasize the experience of enjoying a hot dog at the ballpark with a menu slightly different than the one made famous at their 6th Avenue location. The offerings available at Cheney will include a hot dog topped with peanut butter, bacon, and Cracker Jack. Another dog is capped with cream cheese, grilled onions, tomatoes and celery salt. These will be served along with a selection of sausages, in addition to both vegetarian and vegan options.
“We’ve never really been interested in opening another TRH,” said Chris Miller, owner and general manager of The Red Hot. “But we love our city, and we love our community, so when the Rainiers approached us with this opportunity, we couldn’t pass up the chance to be part of this iconic stadium and incredible Tacoma destination.”
“We were humbled to be a part of long-standing Tacoma history. We’re excited about offering a different experience there, as well as offering something we feel is pivotal in the baseball world: the best hot dog available.”
As the official specialty hot dog provider of Cheney Stadium, The Red Hot will also take over as the culinary caretaker of the Rainiers most coveted concession item, “The Best Hot Dog in Baseball.” The classic version of the quarter-pound favorite served with grilled onions, sweet relish and beer mustard can now be upgraded “Grand Slam Style,” with cream cheese, bacon, sauerkraut and dill.
Each of the hot dog options crafted by The Red Hot and served at Cheney Stadium will be available beginning on Opening Night, Friday, April 17. All single-game tickets, as well as season tickets, group outings and suites packages, are available for purchase in-person at the Cheney Stadium Box Office, online at http://tacomarainiers.com, or over the phone at (253) 752-7707. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Rainiers leading into the season can be found by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.
WIAA APPEARS READY TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT STATE BASKETBALL FORMAT
It appears that the noise and concerns from administrators, coaches, players, family and fans have finally got the WIAA’s attention concerning the unpopular eight-team state basketball format. In the WIAA press release below, make note of the final bit of news to come out of the March Executive Board meeting.
From the WIAA:
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Executive Board concluded its March meeting.
During the meeting, the Board took action on a number of items. The first approved motion was the spring allocations and draws. The draws for tennis and softball will not be released until Sunday, May 24, after all of the teams have qualified. The draws for soccer and baseball will be posted along with the brackets by April 15.
The Board also approved on an experiment for the 2016 1B/2B State Wrestling Tournament to allow a 12-person entry instead of eight. In addition, the Board approved allocations for a 30-entry event for the 1B/2B Girls State Golf Tournament due to the fact that there were not enough schools that met the team definition for an eight-team entry and a 40-golfer event.
Regional baseball sites were approved for the spring.
The 2015 Curt and Chee Chee Bruskland Award Recipient will be Jim Caughlin. Caughlin has staffed the pass gate at many WIAA State Championships including football, basketball, StarTrack and gymnastics for over 30 years. A former football player at Portland State University in the 1950's, Caughlin spent time as a counselor in Oregon before becoming the Director of the Lincoln Bowl. Caughlin will be recognized at the WIAA Coaches School for his services and efforts in supporting high school activities.
Finally, the Board expressed willingness to work with the superintendents group that is researching the possibility of returning to a 16-team basketball tournament format. The Board will provide data, committee membership and any other service the group requests. In return, the Executive Board has requested that the group includes a representative(s) from the Superintendents Advisory Committee.
LOGGER MEN WIN PEYTON SCORING MEET, WOMEN TAKE SECOND
The Puget Sound men's track & field team won the Peyton Scoring Meet with 186 points on Saturday, while the women's team placed second with 159 points.
The Logger men finished 50 points ahead of the second-place team, Pacific Lutheran. The women came up 23 points shy of first place, which was had by the Lutes.
Alison Wise (5:00.14) and Tori Klein (5:05.44) claimed first and second place, respectively, for Puget Sound in the women's 1,500-meter run. Wise also won the 800-meter run by timing in at 2:23.26. Klein also placed second in the 5,000-meter run (18:48.96), as her teammate, Sierra Grunwald, won the event by crossing the finish line in 18:41.88.
In the field, two-sport student-athlete Emily Sheldon (women's basketball) placed second in the high jump at 1.45 meters. Elizabeth King (3.35-m) and Sunny Lewis (2.90-m) finished first and second, respectively, in the pole vault. Shelby Kantner won the triple jump at 10.76-m.
On the men's side, Sam Carilli won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:05.91, while David Santillan finished in a close second by timing in at 4:06.03. The Loggers claimed the top five finishes in the 500-meter run, starting with Tyler Shipley's victory (15:04.25), and followed by Carilli (15:23.80), Josh Seekatz (15:26.20), Santillan (15:26.28), and Justin Higa (15:40.80).
Puget Sound also took the top two spots on the 4x400-meter relay. Cameron Braithwaite, Graham Ashby, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Ross MacAusland won with a time of 3:29.18. Graham Cobb, Todd Detweiler, Michael Westbrooks, and Zal Robles followed with a time of 3:36.56.
In the field, Braithwaite won both the pole vault (4.33-m) and the long jump (6.54-m). Puget Sound next hosts the 30th Shotwell Invitational on Saturday, April 4, starting at 10 a.m.