Hot, sunny spectator sports
The one thing that catches the eyes of people attending the regional soccer tournament at Plantes Ferry Park is the lush green grass.
“We’re in a drought,” said Janet Havert, of Cheyenne, Wyo., as she marveled at the fields.
“It’s beautiful,” said Becky Gruver, also of Cheyenne.
There was a lot more to see than grass Monday on the first day of the U.S. Youth Soccer 2004 Far West Regional Championships – an event that’s expected to bring about 12,000 people to Spokane.
Teams played simultaneously on all 13 fields at the Spokane Valley sports complex. No shady spot was too small as family members tried to avoid the baking heat, though some brought their own shade in the form of beach umbrellas.
Mike Slovek sat with his wife, Teri, and his mother, Irene Stark, in the meager shade cast by a young tree. “We’re from Scottsdale, Ariz.,” he said. “We can find shade.”
Slovek was also impressed with the grassy fields and the Spokane area in general. He was watching his daughter, Joslyn Slovek, play goalie for the U-18 division defending national champions, the Golden Eagles. “They just won 11 to nothing,” said Stark.
His daughter came over for a brief visit after the game before heading off to a training session. “Our team is going to do good,” she said. “We’re organized.”
“The team is disciplined,” her father said as she walked off to get on the team bus. Whether or not the Golden Eagles win again this year, his daughter will be attending Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles on a soccer scholarship, Slovek said.
Each team won the state title to reach this week’s regional championship. Age divisions range from U-12 to U-19. Preliminary games continue at Plantes Ferry and the polo grounds in Airway Heights through Wednesday, beginning at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day. Quarterfinals will be held Thursday and semifinals on Friday at both sites. The regional champions in each age bracket will be determined Saturday at Plantes Ferry. Those winners advance to the national championships at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in July.
While players and spectators enjoyed the games Monday, Plantes Ferry Park director George Skidmore was rushing around in a motorized cart making sure everything was running smoothly. The long-anticipated concession stand, under construction for two years while organizers struggled to raise enough money to complete it, was only recently finished. “We were right up until Saturday night doing construction,” Skidmore said. “All the toilets are flushing. The sinks have running water. I’m excited.”
Construction was started on the site’s septic system only 10 days ago. Installation was completed Friday when crews ran fresh water through the system to see if it worked correctly, sending sprays of water up into the air. “I was so excited I just ran through it and got all wet,” Skidmore said. “The guys thought I was crazy.”
While a few tasks remain, the building is fully functional. “We’re going to pretty it up,” he said. “We have some trim and painting to do. We have lots of landscaping to do over the septic tank.
“The big news is we got ready for the tournament.”