Bears, Titans Get Big Turnouts For Soccer

(From Valley Voice, March 19, 1998): Soccer replay The name of Travis Johnson was inadvertently left off Central Valley’s soccer preview story in Saturday’s Voice. Johnson, a sophomore, was goalkeeper for the Bears last year after Derrick Adams was injured. Both Adams, a senior, and Johnson will be in goal for the team.

Coaches for both the University and Central Valley boys soccer teams have plenty of bodies to work with.

They just have to see how that translates into improvement in the Greater Spokane League.

Nearly 130 players combined make up the two programs this spring, 68 at CV and 60 at University.

“A huge number play year around,” said first-year coach Craig Griffiths of his Bears.

Brandon Deyarmin’s Titans are the same.

“Everybody plays club ball,” said Deyarmin, “and a high percentage play premier.”

Hopefully that means the teams can better U-Hi’s 3-5 co-sixth place finish and CV’s 2-6 eighth-place record of last season.

“We did fine in pre-season, going 7-1, then went downhill,” said Deyarmin. “This group is very serious about not wanting to repeat.”

Griffiths, too, is optimistic.

“We’re sitting pretty decent,” he said. “We’ll be more competitive.”

Top five league finishers make the end-of-season playoffs and two qualify for state.

Titans a blend of old and new

Nine of University’s 17 varsity players return from last year and several newcomers could find themselves in the starting lineup.

“The older guys are taking the initiative to lead,” said Deyarmin. “We struggled with that last year.”

Included are senior starting midfielder Jeff Cunningham, goal keeper Kevin Mace, junior midfielders Paul Hatcher and Grant Falco and defender Sean Burk.

Also returned are junior defenders Robert Hartman, David Massey, Dustin Warwick and senior midfielder Tyson Hockersmith.

New are juniors forward Mike Damascus, defenders Ryan Groth, Logan Peterson and Jeff Lake.

Freshmen on the team are midfielders Ben Hatcher and Tyler Falco, forward Josh Nelson and defender David Gordon.

“Definitely our strength is in the midfield,” said Deyarmin. “We’re young and inexperienced up front and defensively almost everyone is playing a new position.”

So far, however, Deyarmin said he likes what he sees.

Bear strength is in its youth

Out of 20 players on this year’s Bear varsity, just five are seniors.

Included are third-year goal keeper Derrick Adams, forwards Chad Cone, Shawn Conlon, midfielder Jon Dire and starting defender Travis Morgan.

CV’s success will be determined by the younger players’ progress.

“It depends upon how the underclassmen jell,” said Griffiths. “But it’s a great group of kids with lots to choose from.”

Junior sweeper Brandon Martin, midfielder Ben Zimmerman and forward Travis Eiffert also return from last year’s team.

They are joined by junior defender Charles Whipple, midfielders Matt Danelo and Mitch White.

New sophomores are midfielders Andy Sather, Matt Johnson, Kristian Nylund, Andy Cooper, Mike Balcolm, defender Casey Hatch and forward Michael Peterson.

Freshman midfielder Blair Van Antwerp rounds out the squad.

“These are young, good skill players,” said Griffiths. “It depends on how they hold up under the pressure of the GSL.”

Experienced Prep back in hunt

All but two players return from a team that finished tied with University last spring.

“Six teams could have all finished second. Every game was close,” said coach Christian Birrer. “This year we have the experience we need to win those close games.”

Replacing graduated keeper Ryan Wittstruck is the major concern, but senior Curran Cosgrove looks promising, said Birrer.

Cosgrove is one of eight Bullpup seniors, including fourth-year players and all-leaguers Jeff Dixson on defense, Nick Byrd in midfield and third-year all-league defender Spencer Leonard.

Midfielder Mike Edmonds and defender Rob Stewart are also third-year varsity players and defenders Eric Allen and Dusty Bettesworth are second-year varsity.

“Our strength is a veteran defensive core,” said Birrer.

Returning juniors are defenders Mike Butler, Eric Byrd, forward Pat Webinger, midfielders Brad Little and Mik Baltins.

Also back is sophomore forward Nick Ascolese.

Newcomers include junior midfielders Brandon Janosky and Tony Hertel, defender Derrick Fasuett and sophomore forward Prescott Smith.

“This year we are coming in with three or four solid forwards and should be greatly improved (on offense),” said Birrer.

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