This already has been a banner year in Warriors country: Taegu American’s girls volleyball and basketball teams made school history by winning their first Far East Class A tourney championships.
Do Warriors girls soccer players now dare to dream of completing a Class A title sweep?
“It would be nice to complete the triple-whammy,” coach Ed Thompson said, “a nice way to end the school year.”
Despite the Warriors’ tournament history — only once has Tageu even played for the title — it’s less far-fetched than it might seem.
The Warriors lost 2-0 in the 2002 final to archrival Osan American, the only school to win Class A volleyball, basketball and soccer titles in one school year.
Thompson said he believes his team has the talent to be next — or at least to make a run at a Class A title.
“We’ll be in the mix at Class A,” he said.
Leading the way will be senior Joanne Youngblood (12 goals) in the middle, returning forward Crystal Anguay and what Thompson calls his team’s backbone: a defense anchored by seniors Melody Thompson and Nina Forrest and junior Sun Hyong Yeo.
The bad news: The volleyball and basketball teams’ cornerstones, Lynnette Grant and Kelli Cox, are playing softball again.
“We do have competing sports in the spring,” Thompson said.
The good news: Taegu’s Class A opposition, at least among Department of Defense Dependents Schools, mostly is rebuilding.
Osan American lost its centerpiece players, including 2005 Class A MVP Sharon Kroening (12 goals), to graduation. Pusan American, in its final season of existence, must make do without graduate Brieanna Carroll’s 127 career goals.
Robert D. Edgren, new to Class A after competing at the Class AA level since 1999, lost two-time All-Far East senior Jessica Allibone (12 goals) to graduation and promising junior Stephanie Patrick to transfer. Matthew C. Perry is mostly freshmen and sophomores.
“We’re not infallible, but we’re stronger than last year,” Thompson said. “We have a shot.”
Edgren boys prime for Class A title
Years of working and building have helped Edgren develop its strongest boys squad in three years — just in time for first-year coach Robert Victoria and the Eagles to move from Class AA to the small-schools level, after school enrollment dropped from 360 last year to 270 in September.
Despite the move, the Eagles get some good fire-testing against Class AA powers Yokota and Nile C. Kinnick before contedning for the Class A crown, May 17-19 at Camp Walker in Daegu, South Korea.
Five starters return, including senior Patrick Pezoulas (19 goals), junior Nathan Fine (11 goals, 5 assists) and junior Brandon Green (6 goals, 10 assists).
They’ll still likely have strong opposition, including defending champion Osan American, a veteran E.J. King squad in Japan, a Pusan American team hoping to close the book on school history with a championship and Taegu, with its seven returnees.
“They know Yokota and Kinnick and they want to beat them,” Victoria said of his team. “If we can beat these guys … that will give them a huge confidence boost” heading into Far East.
Class A previewsBoys
Japan
E.J. King Cobras,Sasebo Naval Base, Japan
2005 record-4-12-1, sixth in Far East Class A tournament.
Coach-Henry Barr, second season.
Returnees-Matthew Goddard, Sr., forward (4 goals); Jhan Ongoco, Sr., defense; Leif Bogen, Jr., midfield; Jon Yu, Jr., defense; Matt Heitstuman, Sr., forward; David Heitstuman, So., midfield; Evan Freeman, Jr., defense; Randy Rivera, So., forward.
Newcomers-Alec Herb, Fr., forward; Demond Dean, Jr., goalkeeper.
Projected status-Reloading. Good core of veterans augmented by the potential of Herb and Dean, should help Cobras improve to at least .500 status and be competitive at Far East.
Matthew C. Perry Samurai,Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station, Japan
2005 record-4-11, fifth in Far East Class A tournament.
Coach-Mark Lange, third season.
Returnees-Andre Fung, Sr., forward (6 goals); Richard Naseer, Jr., forward; Mack Curtis, Jr., defense; Luke Bingham, Jr., stopper; Howard Barker, Jr., defense.
Newcomers-Skylar Kuhn, Jr., left-midfield; Brandon Sato, So., midfield; Julio Rodriguez, So., midfield.
Projected status-Rebuilding/reloading. Graduated most of team, including All-Far East stars Alex Dahl and Adam Krievs, that beat every DODDS-Japan squad a season ago. Only two seniors on team, inexperienced but good potential, willing to learn and grow, Lange says.
Robert D. Edgren Eagles,Misawa Air Base, Japan
2005 record-10-10-2.
Coach-Robert Victoria, first season.
Returnees-Patrick Pezoulas, Sr., midfield-forward (18 goals); Nathan Fine, Jr., midfield-forward (11 goals, 5 assists); Brandon Green, Jr., midfield (6 goals, 10 assists); Allen Jones, Jr., midfield-forward; Josh Adams, Sr., midfield.
Newcomer-Tony Angelella, Jr., defense.
Projected status-Reloading/contending. Cohesive group of veterans who've played together for awhile; could be Eagles' most competitive team in three seasons, and will contend for Far East tournament title.
Korea
Osan American Cougars,Osan Air Base, South Korea
2005 record-8-10, defending Far East Class A tournament champions.
Coach-Tony Alvarado, second season.
Returnees-Kevin Finch, Sr., forward (7 goals); Carlos Albaladejo, Jr., midfield (7 goals, 5 assists); Jay Carver, Jr., sweeper; Alex Lane, Jr., stopper-midfield; Brian Elkins, Jr., midfield; Anthony Kelly, So., forward.
Newcomers-Joey Dennis, Jr., goalkeeper; Tucker Rhodes, Fr., defense; Tyler Perry, Fr., defense; Justin Stanley, Sr., forward.
Projected status-Reloading. Much of championship team is gone, including MVP Van Hauter (19 goals, 5 assists), but good athleticism and potential at all positions. Could evolve into Class A contender by season’s end.
Pusan American Panthers,Camp Hialeah, South Korea
2005 record-12-6-1, fourth in Far East Class A tournament.
Coach-Angela Griego, third season.
Returnees-Moses Joh, Sr., All-Far East midfield-forward; Andrew Cheeseman, Jr., All-Far East forward (6 goals, 6 assists); Jeff Metzger, Jr., All-Far East midfield-forward; Charles Lee, Sr., defense; Aaron Bae, So., midfield-forward; Thomas Black, So., midfield-forward; Jae Kwan, Sr., midfield; Duke Paulson, So., midfield.
Newcomers-James Edwards, Sr., defense; Jason Baek, Jr., defense.
Projected status-Reloading/contending. Edwards, an accomplished All-Far East tennis and basketball player, adds a jolt of athleticism on defense to a team that enjoyed the finest record in school history last season and could close out Pusan American's 46-year history with its first-ever Class A title.
Taegu American Warriors,Camp George, South Korea
2005 record-1-17, fourth in Far East Class A tournament.
Coach-Larry Knierim, first season.
Returnees-Justin Hendrix, Sr., goalkeeper; Kory Grammer, Sr., sweeper; Chris Anguay, Jr., defense; Kyle Hendrix, Jr., center-forward; Tommy Thompson, So., forward; Mike Ray, So., forward; Matthew Page, So., forward.
Projected status-Rebuilding. A youthful collection with some promise and potential; should improve on 1-win season of a year ago.
Girls
Japan
Robert D. Edgren Eagles,Misawa Air Base, Japan
2005 record-11-6-2.
Coach-Larry Allen, first season.
Returnees-Amanda Cheshire, Sr., defense; Johanna Six, Sr., midfield; Jade Thrasher, So., midfield; Lissi Johnson, So., goalkeeper; Amber Kers, So., midfield; Stephanie Werhrun, So., midfield; Norah Sweeney, So., midfield; Jennifer Stryd, So., midfield.
Projected status-Rebuilding/reloading. Just two seniors and one junior, will be looking toward "future change," Allen said. Scoring of Jessica Allibone (12 goals, graduated) and Stephanie Patrick (senior transferred to Italy) will be missed.
Matthew C. Perry Samurai,Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station, Japan
2005 record-0-13.
Coach-Chris Anderson, second season.
Returnees-Jo Enriquez, Sr., All-Far East midfield; Rei Enriquez, Jr., striker; Kristina Moore, So., defense.
Newcomer-Karen Moore, Fr., midfield.
Projected status-Rebuilding. Only four of 19 players didn’t graduate or transfer and will try to bring leadership to a very young, inexperienced team.
Korea
Osan American Cougars,Osan Air Base, South Korea
2005 record-11-8, defending Far East Class A tournament champions.
Coach-Sung-ho Plourde, sixth season.
Returnees-Christina Connolly, So., forward; Sarah Jin, Sr., forward; Shannon Elkins, Jr., sweeper; Sasha Gluzinski, So., forward (6 goals); Sarah Elkins, So., defense; Angela Thomas, Sr., forward.
Newcomers-Liz Caine, Sr., midfield; Gina Bosworth, So., midfield-forward; Vicki Featherstone, So., midfield; Kacee Corrigan, So., defense; Jessica Richert, Fr., stopper.
Projected status-Reloading/contending. Plourde feels comfortable with his mix of veterans and the potential of his newcomers to be competitive and perhaps defend their Class A title. Leadership of Class A MVP Sharon Kroening and her scoring combined with that of Brittany Wood and Liz Juergens (26 total goals) must be replaced.
Taegu American Warriors,Camp George, South Korea
2005 record-5-12-1.
Coach-Ed Thompson, first season.
Returnees-Joanne Youngblood, Sr., All-Far East midfield (12 goals, 3 assists); Crystal Anguay, Sr., All-Far East forward (4 goals); Sun Hyong Yeo, Jr., All-Far East defense; Melody Thompson, Sr., defense.
Newcomers-Nina Forrest, Sr., defense; Kat Nufable, Jr., forward.
Projected status-Contending. Strong veteran core plus the two newcomers playing more as a team. Must replace scoring of Katrina Alsup (9 goals, transferred to Germany).
Pusan American Panthers,Camp Hialeah, South Korea
2005 record-16-3, Far East Class A tournament runner-up.
Coach-Gary Canner, fifth season.
Returnees-Kay Husler, So., midfield (5 goals); Kristina Sagstetter, Jr., defense; Tacara Walker, So., forward; Yeojin Niehaus, So., midfield; Linda Song, So., defense; Beth Metzger, So., midfield; Andrea Lee, 8th grade, defense; Linda Martinez, 8th grade, defense.
Newcomers-Dlorah Martin, So., goalkeeper; Kristina Bergman, 7th grade, forward.
Projected status-Rebuilding/reloading. School is in the last year of its 46-year history; hoping to at least win its fifth straight Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference Division II (small schools) title. Must replace the scoring of Brieanna Carroll (47 goals, graduated) and Nina Aaltonen (15 goals, transferred to Taejon Christian International).
