Dear Barbarians:
Though the asters, foamflowers, and golden rod all give way to the chill in the night’s air signaling that our indoor season is near, I must bring to your attention in full close of the passing of our most recent year. It is the only appropriate manner for us to begin the coming year with a brief look back without despair.
For the first time in our history we have decided to acknowledge players who are outstanding in their effort during training and whose effort has translated itself during match play. We named these 12 players since a game roster can only contain 12 names for match play. While we admit that nearly all of our players are attentive in training these are the ones who do so on a more consistent basis than others. While a few may not be with us to begin the upcoming season their efforts warrant recognition by us all. These acknowledgments do not necessarily denote the best players in the club but we would be hard-pressed to find many who are stronger:
1.) U12G Kara Batey 2.) U11B Jamie Beiriger 3.) U15G Carley Bogan 4.) U15G Fran Crouse 5.) U16B Eric Fitchwell 6.) U15G Magail Heaps 7.) U12B Joey Klonicki 8.) U12B Galen Kreutzberger 9.) U14B Aedan Marty 10.) U16B Jordan Redfield 11.) U13B Daniel Nicolaus 12.) U16B Kristofer Pomiecko
2008-2009 Most Improved Player; U14B Chris Curran.
2008-2009 Best All Around Team: U11B
2008-2009 Best All Around Player: U10B Trevor Bubin
2008-2009 Best Futsal Player: U16B Eric Fitchwell
2008-2009 Defensive Player: U10G Elizabeth Kinnane
2008-2009 Offensive Player: U14B Michael Pcholinsky
2008-2009 Newcomer of the Year: U15G Carly Seneca
2008-2009 Comeback Player of the Year: U17B Matt Dziak
2008-2009 Smooth Operator: U11B Timothy Pugh
2008-2009 Best Hands of the Year: Sierra Davis
2008-2009 Single Best Performance: U12B Galen Kreutzberger (6 or 7(?) G)
2008-2009 Barbarian of the Year: Trevor Martz
2008-2009 MVP: U11B Josh Kucmeroski
2008-2009 Best Shot: U17B Alex Novotny (USFF National Tournament, half volley not scored!) Daniel McCann (Regular Season or State Cup (?), above the cross bar full volley, also not scored!)
2008-2009 Service Award: Brett Gwosden, Matt Dziak, and Nick Scioscia each steadfast members of the Barbarians since they began at U10. They will be graduating from High School in 2010 and have helped define our club as who we are and why others can never be!
Ones to Watch (based on 2008-2009): U8B; Dominic & Fritz, U10B; Josh U10G; Elizabeth and Maddy, U11B; TEAM U12B TEAM; U16G TEAM
The most rewarding factor in all of the 2008-2009 season was having Rooney Columbus, Matt Dziak, Brett Gwosden, and Nick Scioscia attend the Regional Tournament as assistant coaches. They provided the support necessary in having as many Barbarian teams there as were present and worked diligently to ensure that our teams were prepared to perform to the best of their abilities. There was something about seeing Matt in the first row on the spectator’s side proudly displaying his Barbarian game jersey watching on as our U12B were being pounded that can make any manager teary eyed. You see it seems like it was just yesterday when he and teammates, Brett, Nick, Rooney, Ethan Shula, Liam Maher, and Tim Wood were the U12 terrors of Western PA and were pounded in the Regional in Massachusetts where they did not win a game. They persevered and worked to better their lot and by the time they were U14 (with the addition of Joe Fearer) they had become Regional Champions as well as going on to win Bronze at the National. Yes, it seems like it was only yesterday!
As many of you are aware, the 2008-2009 U15G were Silver Medalists in 2009 but what most of you do not realize is the amount time and effort it took for the Barbarians to establish this team. The many pieces to become the whole began when several of the players joined us at U11, a few more added youth to the team at U14 and then another player added at the beginning of the 2008-2009 helped solidify the team to be a contender on any level. Three of the players on this team are younger than the U16 age group in which they will be playing for 2009-2010, and still another is actually 2 years younger. We appreciate the effort that these players and families have made in our past and hope that for them, and everyone who plays in the Black and White will continue to find the level of commitment to the Barbarians a sincere priority by staying the course in the situation that calls itself adversity.
Understanding that whatever it is that is a challenge today will merely be seen as a bump in the road further along the journey.
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As usual, I will see you on the pitch!
David W. Sayles