PAGE 18
November 2005
Dreams Do Come True
for another local player
By Elizabeth Wright
Special to
wanted this and am so blessed to have this opportuni-
ty. Lately I've been working so hard and been so
"Elizabeth Wright?"
focused on my goals. I have one week to show them
the type of player I am and I want to give them my
"Yeah."
best performance and make everybody here in
"Hi, this is Brittany from US Youth Soccer.
Washington proud.
What I feel is unique about my situation is the
You've been invited to the
club I come from. Crossfire Premier has opened up
Girls U15 National Camp in Carson,
many doors for me this past year. I play for GU16
Crossfire '89 with Scott Jenkins as my coach. I have
California, at the Home Depot Center
been with this team since U11. Yet a few years ago I
October 22nd 29th. Are you available?"
was unsatisfied and wanted more training than just
twice a week with my club team.
"Hold on a second......"
I started picking up extra practices with other
Beth runs down stairs to ask permission.
teams within my club, mostly on the guy's side. I
hopped all over the field just trying to get the most
Mom screams "OF COURSE YOU ARE!"
and best practices I could. I practiced with BU15
Beth runs back upstairs.
Crossfire Premier '90 Brown, BU16 Crossfire
Premier '89 Hattrup, and BU17 Crossfire Premier '88
"Yes, I am available." Beth responds calmly.
James. Exactly a year ago I crossed paths with a
H
coach named Jason Harnasch. At the time I was look-
ing for a coach to train me individually and Jason
offered. He then encouraged me to train with his
his conversation took place on September 8, 2005,
T
boy's team, BU14 Crossfire Premier `91 - Harnasch.
around 3:15 pm. It was just an ordinary day. I was
Over the span of two seasons of practicing with this
working on my homework and in a few hours was
team they have challenged and pushed me to new lev-
going to head off to practice. I wasn't expecting it at
els. I'm very grateful that this team has accepted me
all and when it happened I was literally in shock. I
to come and practice with them and that Jason has
have been dreaming of the day I would get the invite
allowed me to practice with his team and train me
since I was 8 years old. It has always been one of my
individually twice a week. This last year I have also
goals, but it felt so far off in the distance. I never
my first goal (State Team) and it was reached on
had the opportunity to train and play with an older
would have thought this year was the year I would get
Memorial Day weekend down in Oregon at the Nike
girl's team, GU17 Crossfire Premier '88 Jenkins.
to experience one of my biggest dreams!
Friendship Cup. I then shifted my focus onto Regional
These women and their parents accepted me immedi-
Many of you probably don't know me. My name is
Camp and making the Region IV pool.
ately as if I was one of their teammates. They pushed
Elizabeth Wright and I'm 15 years old. I play soccer
After a grueling seven days at camp and an extra
me as well in many areas of my game and forced me
for LWYSA Crossfire Premier `89 Jenkins. I'm a start-
five days for hold-overs, we were informed that the
to get better. I can't thank these teams enough for
ing defender and have played for Crossfire all my life.
players chosen for the Region IV team would receive
what they have done for me. They may not know it,
If you ever talk to any of my friends they'd tell you
a letter inviting them to Boca Raton in November for
but they've played a big part in my success and I am
I'm a complete soccer freak! I absolutely love to train,
the US Youth Soccer Thanksgiving Interregional.
truly thankful!
play, watch, and talk about soccer. I'm also a goal set-
When I got home I jumped right back into the intense
I'm looking forward to National Camp in but not
ter. I set numerous different types of goals and strive
training schedule that I had before I left for camp. I
only that, I'm looking forward to all the years to come
to achieve them every day I set foot on the soccer
kicked it up a notch in hopes that I would be at my
that I get to play soccer, strive to achieve my goals,
field.
peak if I got the invite. On September 9, 2005, I
and continue to work hard and have fun! My ultimate
This year I strove to achieve some of the same
received my invite to Florida.
dream is the day I get to play for my country and am
goals that I had met last year: ODP State Team, ODP
But the one goal that has always been on the hori-
able to tell everyone that I came from my home town
Region IV, and the invite to travel with the Region IV
zon was the National Team call up. Did I really get the
Redmond, Washington, and grew up playing on my
Team to Boca Raton, Florida, for the US Youth Soccer
club team Crossfire Premier! s
call up... was it all a dream? Fortunately it wasn't and
Thanksgiving Interregional. So I set up an intense
as you can tell, I am extremely excited! I have always
training schedule in May. I worked towards obtaining
Other Washington Players Following Their Dreams
OPE SOLO
DANIEL WENZEL
PRESTON ZIMMERMAN
ELY ALLEN
& TINA FRIMPONG
& ELLIS MCLOUGHLIN
& NIKOLAS BESAGNO
Ely competed with the U-18
Men's National Team that
Both players were on the U-17 Men's
Both participated in the FIFA U-17
Both were selected by U.S. Women's
won Northern Ireland's 2005
National Team that recently won Japan's
Men's World Championships in Peru.
National Soccer Team head coach Greg
Milk Cup.
Toyota Cup. They also joined Preston
The US team took fifth place.
Ryan to be included on the initial
Zimmerman in the USSF Residency pro-
Women's National Team Roster for a
gram in Bradenton, Florida.
match against Australia.