Shodair Soccer Classic Saturday in Helena
Posted: Jul 23, 2010 10:49 AM
Updated: Jul 23, 2010 4:48 PM
The Shodair Soccer Classic, an annual summer favorite, takes place Saturday, July 24th as top high school soccer players from around the state gather in Helena to compete and support a good cause. This year's Classic is presented by Wal-Mart, Mountain Dew, and Montana State Fund.
In its eleventh season, the event begins with the women's game at 5:00 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:00 p.m. at Carroll College's Nelson Stadium in Helena. Miss Montana Kacie West of Kalispell will sing the national anthem and assist in the presentation of the Mountain Dew MVP awards, along with television sports personalities Al Marks from Beartooth NBC and Shane Ewing from Montana's News Station. Eight-year-old fundraiser Emma Funk of Livingston will take part in the awards presentation as well. Admission is $5 at the gate; programs featuring player photos and information will be available for purchase.
The Classic features top student athletes from high schools all across Montana. Over 70 outstanding young men and women are considered during a rigorous screening process before being selected to participate in the event. Players must have been selected as All-State and All-Conference high school players in Class AA or A, and demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, and citizenship.
The Shodair Soccer Classic Committee also gathers a talented coaching staff from around the state to guide the teams. Many have winning records in state tournaments, and their skills assure top-level competition. Coaches for the men's teams include: Jay Anderson of Missoula and Carl Straub from Helena. Assistant coaches are Glen Wall and Robin Farrell, both from Helena. Women's team coaches are Mike Meloy of Helena and Laurie Sterger. Assistant coaches are Megan Parish of Billings, Erika Cannon of Bozeman, Hunter Terry of Great Falls, and Alex Tuttle of Helena.
Players and coaches will arrive at Carroll College on July 21st to begin practices and a variety of other activities leading up to the games. On Friday the 23rd, the recently-graduated high school players will host a free soccer clinic for children ages 3 to 12, starting at 10:00 a.m. at Nelson Stadium. Finally, a banquet honoring players, coaches, parents, sponsors, and friends will take place at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening at the dining center on campus.
The Soccer Classic is a benefit for Shodair Children's Hospital and the important work it does for Montana's families. Shodair provides comprehensive medical genetics services for people of all ages and psychiatric services for children and adolescents from communities throughout the state. These are critically-needed services, and Shodair helps families access them without having to go out of state. Last year, the hospital provided more than $4 million dollars in uncompensated care for at-risk children and youth. Support generated from events like the Soccer Classic and the Children's Miracle Network Telethon help assure that these services remain available for young Montanans in need of help.
Tickets will be on sale at the Nelson Stadium gate. Admission is $5 for adults; no admission charge for children under 10. Refreshments will be available, and video of the games will be available for purchase. For banquet reservations or to register for the free kids soccer clinic, call (406) 444-7548 or email tjacobson@shodair.org.
Men's Teams:
Team East
Coaches: Carl Straub and Robin Farrell, both of Helena
Aaron Jessop Corvallis High/Corvallis Midfielder/Forward
Canyon Croft CM Russell High/Great Falls Goalie
Joe Nommenson CM Russell High/Great Falls Center Midfielder/Forward
Chase Overton CM Russell High/Great Falls Right Outside/Defense
Allen Stelling Great Falls High/Great Falls Defensive Midfielder/Outside Midfielder
Alex Gappa Laurel High/Laurel Midfielder
Kaleb Price Laurel High/Laurel Defense
Hans Fisher Hamilton High/Hamilton Forward/Midfielder
Chad Ward Bozeman High/Bozeman Center Midfielder
Ben Lockart Belgrade High/Belgrade Midfielder
Tucker Markovich Belgrade High/Belgrade Defense
Andrew Schafer Belgrade High/Belgrade Midfielder
Justin Enger West High/Billings Forward
Cameron Icenoggle Skyview High/Billings Forward/Defense
Mike Eggen Central High/Billings Center Midfielder/Forward
Cameron Egan Park County High/Livingston Forward/Midfielder
Christian Wallace Park County High/Livingston Forward
Chuckie Richard Butte High/Butte Goalie
TOTAL PLAYERS: 18
Team West
Coaches: Jay Anderson of Missoula and Glen Wall of Helena
Riley Sheldon Helena High/Helena Goalie
Dallin Harris Capital High/Helena Right Fielder/ Outside Back Fielder
Nate Rasor Capital High/Helena Outside Back
Josh Neiman Glacier High/Kalispell Defense
Jonah Brown Hellgate High/Missoula Left Midfielder
Lucas Matelich Hellgate High/Missoula Center Midfielder
Chris Hollinger Sentinel High/Missoula Outside Midfielder
Jerrad Merrill Flathead High/Kalispell Center Midfielder/Stopper
Cody Morritt Flathead High/Kalispell Center Midfielder/Forward
Robert Spoja Sentinel High/Missoula Defender
Skyler Doak Bigfork High/Bigfork Outside, Defense
Alec MacCallum Bigfork High/Bigfork Defense
Lael Richmond Bigfork High/Bigfork Forward/Attacking Midfielder
Peter Hanson Polson High/Polson Striker/Left Fielder/Midfielder/Right
Jerrod Maddio Helena High/Helena Stopper
TOTAL PLAYERS: 15
Women's Teams:
Team East
Coaches: Lori Sterger and Megan Parish of Billings, and Erika Cannon of Bozeman
Coral Higuera Corvallis High/Corvallis Forward
Ellie Crum Great Falls High/Great Falls Goalie
Jessica Scherr Great Falls High/Great Falls Defender/Midfielder/Forward
Alicia Elsenpeter Laurel High/Laurel Outside/Midfielder/Forward
Bry Gordon Hamilton High/Hamilton Forward/Midfielder
Tess Hagenlock Bozeman High/Bozeman Forward/Midfielder/Center Midfielder
Tia Sharpe Bozeman High/Bozeman Center Midfielder
Sydney Heckel Belgrade High/Belgrade Forward/Midfielder
Hannah Holland Belgrade High/Belgrade Defense
Claire Kornegay West High/Billings Midfielder
Christine Moen Skyview High/Billings Midfielder
Lila Scott Senior High/Billings Center/Defense
Mary Makris Park County High/Livingston Center Midfielder
Mariah Alne Butte High/Butte Defense
Piper Frame Missoula Hellgate/Missoula Forward/Center Midfielder
Heather Krebsbach Missoula Sentinel/Missoula Midfielder
Maddie Simmel Missoula Sentinel/Missoula Forward/Midfielder
Lindsay Thane Missoula Sentinel/Missoula Midfielder
Becca Burgmeier Missoula Hellgate/Missoula Defense
TOTAL PLAYERS: 19
Team West
Coaches: Mike Meloy and Alex Tuttle of Helena, and Hunter Terry of Great Falls
Lauren Anderson Helena High/Helena Defense
Taylor Edwards Helena High/Helena Forward
Andrea "Poe" Hildreth Helena High/Helena Goalie
Haley Jensen Helena High/Helena Forward/Outside Center/Midfielder
Demi Wignot Helena High/Helena Forward
Kora Barnes Capital High/Helena Defense
Dani Garner Capital High/Helena Forward
Kelsey Grey Capital High/Helena Defense
Courtney Hauck Capital High/Helena Defense
Marcie McCarvel Capital High/Helena Forward
Megan Apple Whitefish High/Whitefish Sweeper/Center/Defense
Molly Benedetto Glacier High/Kalispell Center Midfielder/Stopper
Maddey Frey Glacier High/Kalispell Forward
Stephanie Carl Big Sky High/Missoula Forward
Sierra Smith Big Sky High/Missoula Forward
Logun Koch Flathead High/Bigfork Sweeper/Center
Kaitlyn Shults Bigfork High/Bigfork Midfielder
Tabitha Hooten Corvallis High/Corvallis Goalie
Macie Netz CMR High/Great Falls Forward
Amy Peterson CMR High/Great Falls Defense
TOTAL PLAYERS: 20
