Wells Branch Soccer Association Update Summer 2012

Submitted by Siv Manda, President, Wells Branch Soccer Assn.

wbsoccer@wellsbranchsoccer.com

As another soccer season comes to a close at the Wells Branch Soccer Association (WBSA), I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words.

We’ve had yet another great season and WBSA was proud to be able to introduce a new activity – the Free Friday Skills Clinic, conducted by Coach Daniel Benito and his crew of coaches. We have had quite a few individual team successes to brag about, however, as a club, it is also important to highlight the path to success. As part of the WBSA efforts to improve the quality of the children’s soccer experience and ongoing education for our volunteer coaches who may be new to the game, WBSA organized five free training sessions open to all WBSA players, each of the sessions were centered around the soccer “fundamentals” like dribbling, changes, passing, shooting and goalkeeping. Our coaches have been impressed with how these clinics have improved their kids’ potential and their eagerness in showing their newly learned skills such as dribbling, changes, controlling the ball and short passes. With such a good turnout and great results, we will be expanding this for Fall 2012.

I have been involved with youth soccer at WBSA as a coach, assistant coach, Registrar and now as President only for the past 3 or 4 years. It takes a lot to keep such an activity running for seasons and seasons (and WBSA has been in existence in one form or another for over 10 years). All this has only been possible with the wonderful support of the MUD Board, specially the Recreational Committee (Chuck Walters and Janet Maxey) and also the MUD management, including Jesse Kennis and Matt Fuller. At WBSA, we are extremely fortunate to have such support that helps to keep our costs low for our players!

Also, I just want to add a word of sincere appreciation to the WBSA Board Members, past and present. It is only with the foundation laid by all these folk that we’re able to continue to provide the opportunities to the Wells Branch area kids as we have. I personally would like to thank Cash Miller, Raul Johnson, Matt Gavin, Cathy Ulcak, Cary Taylor, Jeff Navarro, Rudy Metayer and many others that I know have put in their efforts to keep this going. If you want to bet on any soccer event of your choosing, platforms such as The Southern Times can be trusted.

I would like to share a couple of WBSA success stories from this season:

  • Following our Academy U9 and U10 boy’s teams win at the CAYSA Fall championship, our U11 S2 boys’ team has also had more than their fair share of success reigning in the fall season, Western District and continued success in Spring President’s Cup. The level of play and style of these kids is unconventional yet breathtaking considering their age. Overall, the physical, mental and work ethic of these boys show great potential in the future of soccer in Central Texas.
  • The WBSA Cougars soccer team had a banner year this year! After being WBSA’s highest level select soccer team in history (Super 2) for the last few years, the Cougars were promoted to Division 1 this Spring 2012 and are poised for a Division 1 playoff run!! Their year began Labor Day Weekend 2011, when the Cougars went to the 28th Annual Houston Labor Day Cup and won! They went 6-0 in three days with 12 goals scored while allowing only 3 against! From there, the Cougars completed an undefeated and untied Super 2 season in the CAYSA Super 2 league and went into Western District Playoffs as the #1 seeded team among 24 league participants! In the Spring 2012, the Cougars entered the Division 1 President’s Cup to compete against competitive Division 1 teams from various select clubs including Lonestars and Texans clubs in Austin and San Antonio. The Cougars finished in 2nd place in their bracket with 2 wins, 2 ties, and 1 loss but lost a tie-breaker for playoff qualification. However, the Cougars ended their season in style with a Championship at the Lions FC Memorial Day Cup tournament in San Antonio (pictured below) where they went undefeated not allowing a single goal in the last 3 games including the 2-0 victory in the final! Head Coach Jeff Navarro and Assistant Coach Antonio Zepeda invite you to visit the Cougars Fanpage on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WBSACougars and come out to a game to enjoy some top level youth soccer!! Go WBSA Cougars!!

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