Charges against EV not true

I was disappointed to open my paper Sunday morning (April 29) and read a letter negatively directed at East Valley’s soccer team, the players as individuals and even their parents and fans (“EV not deserving”). The claims are unfounded and the timing of the letter is unfortunate.

To have just won their third straight Greater Spokane League championship is an honor of which the East Valley team should be proud. They play as a team and they have some great individual players. They have forwards who can score and midfielders able to direct the flow of the game. Their defenders are excellent and they all understand their role in shutting down opponents. Their goalkeeper is one of the finest I have seen at the high school level. Their coach is knowledgeable of the game and his players respond well to his teaching. The East Valley players understand the game and they play it with great intensity.

There were numerous teams fighting for the GSL crown and one could argue that many came with credentials equal to those of East Valley. What made East Valley GSL champion? It won more games in league play than any other team. Every team had the opportunity to do what these young men did and I can’t think of a more fair way to determine the champion than the format put forth by the GSL.

There will always be upsets and surprises, but ultimately the league champion is the one that survives these occurrences. To label these boys as not deserving of the GSL championship is an unfair and insensitive assessment of their performance. The championship was decided on the field as it should be and I am proud of the boys and their coach for their exemplary season-long performance.

Lee Funkhouser

Spokane Valley