Wahkiakum girls start club soccer teams

“Soccer is the ultimate sport. It builds friendships.” Shanna Batsdorf, age 13

“I’ve gained friends and teamwork skills.” Tarah Wisner, age 14

“Soccer helps me with teamwork more than basketball.” Anna Kuhn, age 13.

“Soccer really improves teamwork and makes great friends.” Emily Frank, age 12.

“I’m having fun playing with my friends.” Charlie Ashe, age 13.

"I’m really glad this happened. I wish we had this in high school. There is never enough soccer.” Hayley Kerstetter, age 14.

“Soccer is my life.” Ellie Leitz and Madison Muyskens, age 12.

They’ve been playing here for years, these girls of soccer. Pre-teens and teens, many started at three with the Wahkiakum Youth Soccer program, and a few relocated here from places like San Diego and Ohio where they have larger soccer programs.

Some of the girls are quiet, but others make more than their share of noise, and their shouts of joy can turn from talk of twerking and crunk and swag back to soccer quicker than it takes you to look up the definition of twerking or crunk or swag.

But that’s at practice.

They are quiet and serious on game day. Maybe not before the game or after, or during the ten minute half after they’ve caught their collective breath, but for those 80 minutes on the field they are all business.

These girls love their soccer.

Amy Lomax ran cross country in school but learned the art of soccer when her little brothers had a team and lacked a coach. Something clicked and 17 years later, she has become a champion of the sport. She’s coaching the U-16 team, for 15 and 16 year olds. It takes 11 to make a team, but they are doing their best with nine.

Wahkiakum High School Principal Stephanie Leitz played for the Mark Morris team when she was in high school and was in an adult recreational league last year. She’s coaching the U-14 team, the 13 and 14 year olds who are, Leitz said, “a lot of fun.”

The teams combine to meet their coaches twice on Thursdays for practice; once at 7:30 a.m. and again at 5 p.m. They have to work around the schedules for official Mule teams, but are grateful for the space to practice on school grounds.

This summer three of the girls stood before the Wahkiakum School District Board and asked the directors to consider adding girls’ soccer to the list of official Mule sports. Their reasons for joining a recreational league in soccer this fall were twofold: to play their beloved sport and to make a point.

They were all business, just like they are on the field.

“They can only play until the 6th grade,” Michelle Wisner and mother of Tarah, said. “They wanted to keep playing.”

Their games are on Saturdays in Longview on the fields at 7th Avenue. The U-14 team has won two, lost three and tied once.

The U16 team is down two players. They have fought valiantly and shown real promise but have struggled to beat bigger, well rested teams this season. They are 0-3-0. Both teams play their final games this Saturday.

Their season may be nearly over but soccer never really has to end. They’ll be playing as soon as it warms up again. Fortunately there is the indoor soccer season to tide them over until then.