League champs: Players from Wy’east Middle School soccer team are (back, left to right) coach Jaime Rivera, Diego Muro, Jairo Ortiz, Adrian Lopez, Julio Marquez, Jorge Hernandez, Luis Quintana, Juan Leon, Ezequiel Pitones, Jerry Sandoval, (front) Erik Pitones, Emy Perez, Emmanuel Gamboa, Alex Lopez, Leo Urenda, Victor Cuevas, Juan Estrada, and Fabian Magana.
League champs: Players from Wy’east Middle School soccer team are (back, left to right) coach Jaime Rivera, Diego Muro, Jairo Ortiz, Adrian Lopez, Julio Marquez, Jorge Hernandez, Luis Quintana, Juan Leon, Ezequiel Pitones, Jerry Sandoval, (front) Erik Pitones, Emy Perez, Emmanuel Gamboa, Alex Lopez, Leo Urenda, Victor Cuevas, Juan Estrada, and Fabian Magana.
Wy’east defeated White Salmon 5-1 Thursday evening to claim the first-ever boys’ Gorge Area Middle School Soccer League championship. The two teams had met twice earlier in the league’s inaugural season, with Wy’east winning both by a narrow one-goal margin.
“The way the championship was structured, Wy’east had a bye, while White Salmon had to play earlier in the day for a shot at the title,” Wy’east Coach Jaime Rivera said. “I think the game would have been a lot closer if White Salmon hadn’t already played a game that day.”
Rivera, also the head Hood River Valley High School varsity boys soccer coach, said he was optimistic about the level of play he saw in the league, which included teams from Wy’east, Hood River, White Salmon and The Dalles.
“As far as I know, this is the first time middle school soccer players in the Gorge have been able to represent their schools on the field,” Rivera said. “We’ve had middle school soccer before, but I think this is the first time kids have been able to play for their specific schools, against teams from other schools in the area.”
A similar girls middle school league is about halfway through its season, with championships slated for July 19, and as long as enough players participate, fall seasons will be held for both boys and girls middle school leagues.
“Our vision for this age group is to create a middle school league where kids have the opportunity to represent their schools and can experience the pride and school spirit that comes along with that,” Rivera said. “With all the cuts in school sports, I think there’s a void in that area, and this is a way to help fill it.”
The invigorated middle school programs are an extension of what Hood River Community Education has organized for many years. With an entire catalogue of classes, activities and sports to manage, and a thinly-stretched staff to manage everything, HRCE enlisted the service of leaders in the youth soccer community to help boost its offerings.
“We’re basically trying to lighten Community Education’s load, while also providing high-level coaching, especially for those who can’t afford the club soccer opportunities we have here,” Rivera said.
In addition to facilitating the middle school spring and fall leagues, HRCE has partnered with community leaders to co-organize programs for the younger age groups — namely the K-2nd grade and the 3rd-5th grade levels. HRVHS coaching staff has taken responsibility of the youngest rugrats and their summer learn-to-kick-and-chase season, while BSC Hood River Soccer Club is leading the 3rd-5th grade summer soccer academy.
In addition to HRCE’s support, Rivera said a special thanks is in order for the coaches of the other three Gorge teams, namely Michael West from HRMS, German Lopez from The Dalles and John Grim from White Salmon, for their help in making the league a success.
“Getting these guys involved in our youth soccer program has completely turned things around,” said John Rust, HRCE Director. “At the middle school level, where we basically didn’t have soccer, all of a sudden we have about 140 kids who are playing through the summer. That’s outstanding. I couldn’t be more complimentary in terms of the positive impact they have had on the program.”
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