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the under-14 girls soccer team from the Upper Keys did exactly that, winning a national championship in the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) games in Chicago. Down 2-0 at halftime, the young women managed to score four unanswered goals in the second half of a Sunday match to advance for the final showdown. They went on to beat a Rowland, Calif., team 3-2 to win first place. Think of this in terms of winning the Little League World Series and you get a sense of how proud the young athletes, their parents, coaches and community are of their achievement.
What a marvelous testament to determination, grit and focus. Here are the names of our under-14 girls soccer champs: Andrea Cockerham, Stephanie Lietaert, Amber Spaulding, Lexi Creary, Shelby Ragan, Jennifer Tiziani, Maddie Ingegno, Haleigh Stremanos, Cerene Arsenault, Melisa Camacho, Jasmine Paterson, Chalsea Russell, Heather Williams, Holly Givens, Kelley Struyf. And congrats to their two hard-working coaches Clint Arsenault and Lou Stremanos. The AYSO under-12 boys team also brought back a big win from these national games, taking third in their age division against tough competition. Congrats to Anthony Papp, Jimmy Rhyne, Mauricio Ruocco, Charlie Augustus, Riley Durkin. AJ Patterson, Marco Ceja, Kimani Cooke, Nicolas Zaldana, Ricardo Lopez Espin, Ricardo Ceja. And thanks to their coaches: Arthur Patterson and assistant coach Chris Bull. The tournament featured more than 200 teams representing the entire country, including teams from Hawaii. The past week, the community has gathered with military brass to salute two leaders here in the Keys. Capt. Jim Scholl handed off the baton to his replacement last Friday. Capt. James R. Brown replaces the affable and highly visible Capt. Scholl as commanding officer of Naval Air Station Key West. Fortunately for us, Capt. Scholl, who decided to retire from the Navy, plans to remain in the Keys. Capt. Phil Heyl, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West, leaves his post Friday after a jam-packed tour as head of the Southernmost sector guarding the nation's borders. His leadership on local community affairs, and the example he set in quick response to Hurricane Katrina's devastation to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, stand as exemplary models for leadership that bridge all sectors in our community. Capt. Scott A. Buschman assumes the command Friday and Capt. Heyl will be transferring to Washington, D.C., and a role with Coast Guard headquarters command. We welcome both Capts. Brown and Buschman to the Keys and extend
our sincerest bon voyage to Capt. Scholl and Capt. Heyl.
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