June 2006
PAGE 5
Healthy Athletes for
Life
Dairy Farmers Young Male Referee of the Year
ur new venue, the Greater Tacoma Convention
O
Association. All deserve special thanks for the work
- DARRYL SPENCER
they do! The recipients of this year's WSYSA awards
& Trade Center, provided ample opportunity to
are:
showcase WSYSA's Soccer Fair 2006. With the theme,
Coming out of the East King County Soccer Referee
"Healthy Athletes for Life" whether you were a player,
Association, Darryl Spencer recently earned his
WSYSA Volunteer of the Year - DAVE SHIPWAY
coach, referee, administrator or parent, this marquee
upgrade to Grade 7. He has represented Washington at
Dave Shipway has been a soccer volunteer in
event had something for every segment of the WSYSA
Region IV ODP Camps in 2003 and 2004 and at the
District 2 for more than 30 years. He served as
membership.
2005 ODP Tournament. He was invited to Semi-finals
President of Northshore Youth Soccer Association for
Camp in 2004-2005 and has refereed finals at State
Approximately 1500 attended the day-long
13 years, and continues to serve as their VP of
Tournaments for the past three years. Darryl played
event that included a free vendor/exhibitor show
Competition and Chair of the Field Development
club and high school soccer and was an assistant coach
where over 80 businesses displayed everything new
Committee. He has coached at the Recreational and
for five years. He now referees up to four matches per
in soccer, including:
Select levels. As current NYSA President, Debra
·
week while maintaining a 3.6 GPA at Western
soccer apparel
Sternagel puts it, "Dave has made our association an
·
Washington University.
soccer equipment
integral part of his daily life over the last 30 years by
·
soccer camps
stepping up to perform just about any position and
WSYSA Girls' Coach of the Year
·
fund-raising opportunities
duty that was needed."
- WARREN PERKINS
A wide variety of informative topics were covered
Warren Perkins has been the coach of the Seattle
WSYSA Life Member - LEANNE EHNAT (posthumously)
in 46 free workshops for coaches, referees,
Youth Soccer Association Piranhas for 11 years, helping
In addition to being a fantastic wife, mother, and
administrators and parents, including:
his players develop from shy little girls who could bare-
grandmother, Leanne Ehnat was a great friend of and
·
TOPSoccer
ly tie their shoes into self-empowered young
champion for youth soccer in Washington State. For
·
Insurance
adults. During games, Warren's style is supportive, pos-
more than two decades Leanne graced the soccer com-
·
Nutrition for Young Athletes
itive, enthusiastic, and calm, focusing on the players
munity with her remarkable gift of love and dedication.
·
Registrar Training
having fun while being competitive. He has helped his
An extraordinary woman with "a special aura about
·
Referees (assigning, mentoring and positioning)
players learn to believe in themselves, and has made
her", Leanne was tireless in her quest to bring soccer to
·
Rules
lasting relationships with his players and their parents.
the children of WSYSA, to teach them not only the
·
Parenting a child athlete
skills of the game, but also life lessons that will stay
WSYSA Boys' Coach of the Year
with them for a lifetime. For over a decade, Leanne
- DENNIS VASBINDER
The seethruthesmoke.com KIDS ZONE! was a
served as WSYSA State Tournament Director, responsi-
In addition to serving as WSYSA District 5
great hit with kids young and old. Many tried their luck
ble for both the Fred Meyer Commissioners' Cup and
Commissioner, Dennis Vasbinder has been a coach
at the Seattle Sounders Kick Center, signed up to be
US Youth Soccer Washington State Champion-
with the CYSF Salmon Creek Soccer Club for seven
smoke free with the Tobacco-Free Street Team, had
ships. Leanne was a tireless, dedicated WSYSA volun-
years, and is an active referee. His enthusiasm and cre-
their faces painted, got pictures with their friends at
teer who truly embodied the spirit and vision of what
ativity are his strong suits. Teamwork is his mantra;
the Legends Photo Booth and met SOCCO, Sammy
youth soccer is all about ... the kids.
individual play is discouraged. Dennis encourages his
Sounder, and Rhubarb the Reindeer.
WSYSA Life Member - PAIGE HARDER
players to respect their teammates, their opponents
Dairy Farmers of Washington sponsored a jam-
Paige Harder has been a volunteer in District 3 for
and their parents, who take time out of their schedules
boree between teams selected by each district. The
over 23 years. Her soccer journey began with Sumner
to give their children the opportunity to play soccer.
teams played two friendly games in an inflatable soccer
Soccer Club, where she was a team mom, registrar,
field located in the KidsZone. TOPSoccer players also
Fred Meyer TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year
field scheduler, equipment manager, coach and refer-
participated in a jamboree, which featured the first all-
- ROSE HOLMAN
ee. She served as MAR and VP of Competition for
wheelchair competition in WSYSA history.
Rose Holman is a buddy in the District 3 TUSK
Mount Rainier Soccer Association. Serving as District 3
Bigfoot TOPSoccer program. She spreads her joyful atti-
Soccer Kicks for Cancer Juggle-a-thon was the
Commissioner for 11 years, Paige was instrumental in
tude to the players and other volunteers at every event
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fundraiser where
the advancement of the District, overseeing its devel-
she attends. The mother of a special-needs athlete, Rose
coaches, teams and players collected pledges, then
opment into a leader in WSYSA. She also served as
helps organize events while looking after all the players
aimed to improve their soccer skills and raise money by
District 3 Secretary and VP of Competition, overseeing
in the program. As TUSK TOPSoccer coordinator
"touching the ball 2,000 times in one day".
leagues and mini-LPT's. Paige upgraded the District
Rochelle Leonardo puts it, "There are few people in the
office and ensured the financial stability of the District
District 3 narrowly won bragging rights as top
world with an aptitude for caring, and Rose is on the
by updating the financial records with audits. Under
District donor in the WSYSA World Vision Challenge.
top of the heap."
Paige, the 2nd VP of Administration was added to the
WSYSA members dropped off their gently used soccer
District 3 board, a Boundaries Committee was imple-
equipment, which will be donated to World Vision for
WSYSA President's Award - GUS SCHMAUCH
mented, and an advanced education fund was set up for
distribution to many disadvantaged children in other
Washington State Youth Soccer Association and
A, B, and C Coaching Licenses. Recently, Paige had
parts of the world who love the game, but can't afford
the Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association lost one
District 3 fully incorporate association VPs of
to purchase soccer gear. Our players were also given
of their greatest assets when, after a quarter of a centu-
Development and Competition into the team place-
the opportunity to make a soccer ball out of plastic
ry of service, Gus officially retired in December
ment process to improve competition within divi-
bags and twine, similar to the soccer balls many African
2005. Since its inception 25 years ago, Gus has been an
sions. In 2005, she provided the leadership to have
children make and use to play "the game for all kids".
important part of SpVJSA, both as a volunteer and val-
District's manual administration procedures automated,
ued employee. Among her most valued attributes are
The day was topped off by the 18th Annual
including online registration with fee payment and ref-
her exceptional understanding of the details involved
WSYSA Awards Dinner, emceed by SPU head coach,
eree system to disciplinary system integration. Paige
in running a youth soccer league, attention to detail,
Cliff McCrath, to honor many great volunteers working
continues to volunteer as a buddy for the TOPSoccer
and extraordinary problem solving skills. Gus is a
for kids in all of the WSYSA associations. Keynote
program.
unique individual with a wonderful, contagious sense
speaker, Albert Mensah described his transition from a
Dairy Farmers Young Female Referee of the Year
of humor. Her perpetually cheerful and positive atti-
happy but impoverished life in Ghana to living the
- SERENA FRAZIER
tude has helped keep problems at a minimum and spir-
American dream in the United States. He emphasized
its high among the office staff.
With roots in the Federal Way Soccer Referee
that it's really how you view your position in life that
Gus has seen SpVJSA grow from a few teams to
Association, Serena Frazier has been a referee for seven
determines how you will face challenges and achieve
over 350 teams consisting of more than 3000 players.
years. She had the honor of refereeing in a final at the
your goals. By providing guidance to the youth of our
She has been through the introduction of small-sided
US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships in
community, WSYSA volunteers ensure a better life for
games and online registration, and has seen Plantes
2005, where she was named Rookie of the Year for
everyone, including themselves.
Ferry Park grow from a lot full of overgrown pine trees
Region IV. Serena has played competitive soccer for
The 2006 Soccer Fair Awards Dinner honored
to a spacious 13-field soccer complex. True to her
nine years, volunteers at Twin Lakes Physical Therapy
many hardworking volunteers who contribute their
nature, Gus has already spearheaded the launch of a
and is earning college credits through her high school's
time and efforts to the Associations, Clubs and players
TOPSoccer program in Spokane. s
Running Start program.
affiliated with Washington State Youth Soccer