By Rob Potter
LIBERTY — April 13, 2004 – Dozens of youth soccer players, coaches, parents and other family members gathered recently to reflect upon the Liberty United Soccer Club’s 2003-2004 indoor soccer season.
The awards ceremony/pizza party was held on March 29 at the Liberty Middle School cafeteria.
The Liberty United Soccer Club began three years ago with approximately a dozen players.
But Don Viele, who coached the Under 10 team and is one of the club’s organizers, proudly noted that a total of 110 boys and girls participated in the club this past winter.
“It’s going well,” Viele said of Liberty United Soccer Club. “It’s good for the kids.”
The Liberty United coaches, who received certificates for their work with the youngsters, include: Denise Burgio (U12), Juan Diaz (U10), Jim Green (U16 Boys), Debbie Simpson (U16 Boys/Girls), Krystina Stant (U12) and Don Viele (U10).
“Every practice we do all kinds of drills, we get better every day,” Liberty United Soccer Club Head Coach Carpio Ramos said. “Everybody is the best, everybody plays hard.”
Each of the youngsters who participated received a certificate. In addition, several awards were presented to individual members of the club’s six teams and league awards were presented to three players. In addition, service to the league awards were presented to deserving adults.
Those awards were as follows:
U10: Most Improved Player (MIP) – Nick Scheibe; Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Ryan Haff; Coach’s Award – Tanner Austin.
U12: MIP – Ben Vreeland; MVP (Offense) – Tim Burgio; MVP (Defense) – Karyn Sheeley; Coach’s Award – Jessica Stant.
U14: MIP – Katie Baxter; MVP – Kurt Ramos; Coach’s Award – Jay Burke.
U16 Girls: MIP – Julie Shovlin; MVP – Heather McArthur; Coach’s Award – Maggie Sauchuk.
U16 Boys: MIP – Alex Calabrese; MVP – Justin Green; Coach’s Award – Jeffrey Simpson.
U19: MIP – Dan Ratner; MVP – Chris Kinney; Coach’s Award – Matt Calabrese.
League Awards: Nick Coelho, Kim Ramos and Damien Travis.
Service to League Awards: Maggie Baxter, Debbie Simpson and Don Viele.
During the event, two large banners that spelled out the motto of the Liberty United Soccer Club hung on the cafeteria’s walls. That motto is: “We are an aggressive soccer club. Training sessions are part of our goal to take soccer to the higher level. Although we understand that your commitment to academics is a priority, we expect consistent participation in training sessions. Our training is designed to challenge you and enhance your skills. At practice, we expect you to perform to your fullest ability and respect the authority and wisdom of your coaches. Most importantly, have fun!”
Throughout the ceremony, Carpio Ramos noted that a few of the teams earned second or third place finishes in tournaments that were held in Orange County and in Pennsylvania.
“Thank you for all you do for the club,” Carpio Ramos said to the parents and family members in attendance.
The parents felt the same way about the dedication that Ramos and his wife, Anne, show to the Liberty United Soccer Club.
“It wouldn’t be as successful as it is without them,” commented Debbie Simpson, who is both a coach and a parent.