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Show Sports Thursday, August 2, 2007 The Gunnison Valley Gazette The Beautiful Game by MITCH PETERSON In Spanish, it’s called Futbol. In parts of Africa, Soka. In Scotland, just say Fitba. Across America, and here in Sanpete County, we call it Soccer, a word with a debatable origin. Fans worldwide know it as “The Beautiful Game”. The first-ever Gunnison High School girls soccer season started Monday night with a team meeting and practice. Head coach Jaron Jensen will guide the Lady Bulldogs in this inaugural campaign. “I’m really excited to get started,” Jensen said at the end of Monday’s session. “The girls are already enthusiastic. They’ve put anything I was worried about out of my mind. They’re ready to go, ready to give it everything they’ve got,” he added. Their first match is also their home and region opener, on Tuesday, August 21st, against county rivals Manti. The Utah High School Athletic Association recently approved soccer at the 2A level and play began last year with just a handful of teams. The Bulldogs will play in the Southern Region with Manti, North Sevier, South Sevier, Richfield, Beaver, Millard and Grand. Monday was also a big day for those who’ve been instrumental in forming and running the local club level teams the past few years, which has led to the sport’s rise. Gunnison’s Diane Johnson has been the official “Soccer Mom” for the boys and girls club teams for the last four years. She enjoyed Page 7 e h t t e Me t h g i N Team Friday, August 10 GVHS Football Field Starts at 6 p.m. Dinner at 6:30 Hamburger Plate • $5 Hot Dog Plate • $2.50 • Booster Club Membership Sign-ups • GVHS Drill Team & Cheerleaders will be there! Do Your Best Mitch Peterson/Gunnison Valley Gazette Head coach Jaron Jensen greets an enthusiastic group of players at the first ever Gunnison Lady Bulldogs soccer practice last Monday, July 30. The team will play their first match in three weeks at home against Manti. that, but lobbied to get the sport sanctioned. “I have mixed feelings,” Johnson said. “I’m letting my baby go. It’s the same way I felt when my daughter went to college. I have to take a few steps back, and let it go. It’s difficult, but it’s a good thing, and I’m excited to watch it blossom and grow. I’d like to see the community come out and see some matches. There’s a lot of movement and action in the high school game.” Soccer has been a fully sanctioned sport at North Sanpete High School in Mt. Pleasant for about 10 years, with the Hawks competing at the 3A level. Farrel Marx was involved in that program from the beginning, and he’s been the head coach there for the last few years. “It’s worked out great for us,” Marx said. “When we started, the school district was leery, regarding funding, but it worked out. They saw the benefits of the program. It provides an opportunity to kids that often don’t play other sports.” The Hawks have seen success on the field as a team, fin- Remember When... Jackie Peterson Bartholomew & Johnny Anderson GVHS Activity Chairmen - 1965 ishing second in Region 8 in 2005, while individually, former Hawk forward Arwen Lott was one of the state’s top goal scorers in 2004. For the Lady Bulldogs, the paperwork and introduction part of the process is over, and the work begins. “Now we’ll start getting conditioned to soccer standards,” Jensen says. And that historic first match is just three weeks away, at home against Manti on August 21st, the first day of school. “We’ll meet here and let the rivals compete,” Jensen said. Do Your Best is sponsored by: Peterson Refrigeration and Mechanical 550 South Main, Gunnison • 528-3365 Tri-County Tri-County Little League Little League Football Sign-ups Football Sign-ups Monday, August 6 4 to 7 p.m. @ Lotsa Motsa Pizza in Gunnison Sponsored by HERMANSEN’S MILL 204 South 1st East • Gunnison 528-3136 Feeds • Grain Storage • Fertilizer Seeds • Farm Supplies • Chemicals Lotsa Motsa Sports Calendar GVHS Football Meet the Team Night • 6 p.m. GVHS Girls Volleyball Try-Outs Monday, August 6 • 9 a.m. to 12 Noon Pizza • Calzone Breadsticks • Salad Free Delivery (Limited Area) 528-3792 57 South Main • Gunnison Happy to Serve You 6th, 7th & 8th grade tackle football Registration (including rental of helmet and shoulder pads) is $80 Pants and Leg pads if needed are $25 Gunnison Football Jersey if needed is $25 Volunteers to help coach are needed! Each grade will need at least 16 players to field a team. If the minimum number of 16 players is not met, money will be refunded and that grade will not have a team for the year. Any questions, call Mark Henline 528-5178 |
