August 2006
PAGE 23
Cam (The Dream) Weaver
May 13
Coming in at the 77th minute
of the game, he scored his first
goal as a Seattle Sounder,
resulting in a 1-1 tie with
Minnesota.
May 17
Rookie Phenom
Coming in at the 71st minute of
the game, his second goal as a
Who is the Seattle Sounder's Rookie Phenom
Sounder brought Seattle level
where did he come from and how did he get here?
with Rochester 1-1 in the 85th
minute of the match; the
By Leslie Groce
Sounders went on to lose in
WSYSA Communications Director
stoppage time.
I
n fact, Cameron Weaver is a home-grown product,
May 20
born and raised in Western Washington. Cam started
playing soccer through Kent Youth Soccer Association
Coming in at the 55th minute
when he was 5. My first memories of Cam are when he
of the game, he assisted on a
played for the U-10 Terminators with my son, Matt in
Craig Tomlinson goal in the
the early 1990's. He always played in the back, generally in the
Sounders 2-0 win over the
stopper position. He was the youngest kid on the team, and
Toronto Lynx.
one of the smallest, but his tenacity was evident even at that
young age. As Cam freely acknowledges, he was never the
May 26
superstar of the team, but he was a consistent, hard-working,
Starting the game, he scored
team player. His parents, Julie and Bill, were eager volunteers,
both goals in a 2-2 draw with
always available to assist with team events, put up nets, and
the Vancouver Whitecaps.
help with practices.
As the boys grew older, not only did the name of the team
May 27
change from Terminators to Kent United to FC Ajax, the team
Starting the game, he drew the
seemed to grow apart - half of the players wanted to move up
penalty kick call that gave the
Cam plans to finish up at Seattle University with a Business
to the Premier I level, while the remainder wanted to play at a
Sounders a 1-0 win over the
Finance degree, then weigh his opportunities. "I want to take
more relaxed pace. Sadly, this resulted in the team dissolving
Vancouver Whitecaps. Based
my soccer career to the highest level possible, so if opportuni-
after the State Tournament in 1999. Several of the boys, includ-
on these results, he was voted
ties present themselves I will take those into consideration."
ing Cam, played on a team out of Tacoma during the next
SounderCentral.com's
May
There have been sacrifices Cam has given up other activ-
league season, and then Cam made the decision not to play
`'Player of the Month'' and was
ities like snowboarding, fly-fishing, hiking/camping, and going
club soccer during his junior and senior years of high school.
voted onto the USL's Team of
to concerts to focus on soccer. He doesn't mind, "I know I will
"My friends were picked up by another team and I was
the Week for Week Six.
be able to do these activities once my soccer career is over, so
burned out. I was growing like crazy, and I just needed a
it is ok."
break," explained Cam. "I decided to focus on high school bas-
June 11 -
Like many in the soccer community, Cam can't understand
ketball and soccer. Though they tried to talk me out of my
In the 71st minute the
why many people in the US "don't recognize soccer for the
decision, my parents supported me, and that really helped."
Sounders trimmed Atlanta's
beautiful sport it is". He continues, "There are so many who
As he grew from 5' 3" to 6' 4" and gained 50 pounds of
lead to one with a goal by the
disregard the sport before taking a chance to learn about it.
muscle in 18 months, with encouragement from his Kentwood
rookie forward. Scoring his
The professional players who play here in the US work just as
High School coach, Jimmy Dunn, Cam started to enjoy soccer
team-leading fifth goal of the
hard, if not harder, than players in the `major' sports in the US,
again; the Kentwood team went to state finals in Cam's senior
season, he moves into second
but don't receive the same attention. I'm glad to see that soc-
year. "It was when I got hurt in the semifinal and couldn't play
among the league's leading
in the next game that I realized how much I loved soccer, and
cer is growing in this country, and hope to see it rival the other
goal scorers.
how much I wanted to keep playing."
major sports in the near future."
With no college scouts knocking on his door, Cam decid-
"... this game has taught me so much that applies to my
June 18
ed to attend Skagit Valley College, where he became team cap-
life in general. Motivation, dedication, responsibility, personal
tain. Head coach, David Ryberg helped him "mature as a per-
health, dealing with distractions, working with a team, and
In the 31st minute, he ties the
son and gain the experience I would need to transfer from the
communication are all areas of my life that have improved as a
game, scoring his sixth goal of
junior college level to Seattle University." In 2003, Skagit
direct result of playing soccer. I hope to use my success to
the season.
Valley won the NWACC Championship, and Cam was named
become a role model for younger kids who look up to players
NWACC Regular Season and Tournament MVP.
June 22
like me," he continued.
Based on his performance at Skagit, Cam was invited to
His words of advice to young soccer players: "As long as
In the 90th minute, he scores
transfer to Seattle University, where he played for Peter
the game is fun, keep playing. You don't have to be the super-
his seventh goal of the season,
Fewing for two years. Cam was named GNAC Newcomer of
star on the team to enjoy soccer or be successful at it. I was
ending a five game losing
the Year in 2004 and was on the All-GNAC team in 2004 and
never a big name player in my youth. I was not recruited by
streak, and securing a 1-0
2005. "Peter really fueled the fire that had started to burn
colleges out of high school. I just stuck with soccer and
shutout of the Virginia Beach
inside me he believed in my ability and pushed me to
worked on my game as much as I could. The passion I had for
Mariners.
improve at my game. He knew that I could make it as a pro-
soccer kept building and building the longer I played. If you
fessional if I wanted to. It was his encouragement and the hope
June 25
stick with playing and don't get frustrated with your team's or
that he gave me that pushed my game to the next level."
individual success, things will all come together for you in
Early in the match, he scores
"Then in March 2006, I was invited by the Seattle Sounders
time."
two goals in the 14th and 27th
to the college/invitational tryout week. After playing with the
Knowing the odds that he has beaten, Cam is humble in
minutes. This puts him in a tie
team during the preseason, I was offered a contract. It was
his success with the Sounders. "It is an honor to wear the
with the league leader,
such a relief to have the uncertainty of making the team gone
Sounders jersey. Brian Schmetzer has taken a chance on me
Romario, with nine goals
so I could focus on playing and not be afraid to take more risks
here with the Sounders, and I want to prove that it was the
scored in the season.
on the field for fear of making a mistake." And, according to his
right choice to make." s
cousin, Stefan, an avid U-11 soccer player, it was a family
June 29
effort. When he was told the good news, he shouted, "WE DID
Early in the second half, he nets
IT!!"
his 10th goal of the season to
"I grew up watching the Sounders, so it really is a dream
secure the win for the Sounders
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT YOU
to be playing at the professional level. To start my profession-
over the Minnesota Thunder.
al career in the same area I grew up in is also very special. I
ARE THE RIGHT CHOICE, CAM
think it's great that my family gets to enjoy seeing me play at
this level and share in some of the successes I have achieved
Keep Up The Good Work!
so far," declared Cam.