Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Just For Kicks
ALLISON Lipsher was kind of scared and called home a lot, but her first first trip to Olympic Development camp last month was a big success. Three make ODP
region soccer teamsThe 5-foot-7 goalkeeper was selected for the West Regional Under-15 team and leaves Sunday for the four-team national tournament in Birmingham, Ala.
"Overall, I was very happy. Then I realized I was the only Hawaii person there and didn't know anyone," Lipsher said.
That will change in Alabama. After being named to the region team, Lipsher was held over for another week to practice with her new teammates.
"I know most of the people now," the Punahou freshman said. "But, I'm still nervous because the competition gets tougher and tougher."
Lipsher started playing soccer at age 6 and has always been a goalkeeper.
Erin Ota and Natasha Kai, also ODP camp first-timers, were named to the West Region Under-17 pool.
Ota, a fullback, will be a senior at Maryknoll. Kai is a striker entering her senior year at Kahuku.
Three girls, Kara Ishikawa, a midfielder from Iolani, midfielder Maile Tavepholjalern, who recently moved to the mainland, and Romy Trigg-Smith, a defender from Punahou, made the Under-17 pool.
Hawaii's boys enjoyed similar success with two region team and seven region pool selections.
Goalkeeper Andrew Brown and midfielder Kenji Treschuk, recent Mililani and Moanalua graduates, respectively, are in the Under-18 pool.
Duke Hashimoto, a midfielder/striker from Iolani, is in the Under-16 pool. He has been to three ODP camps and it's the second year he has been named a pool player.
David Semenza, a goalkeeper from Punahou, is on the Under-15 team, while Max Anton, Stephen Carlson and Richard Higa are in the pool.
Semenza received the Golden Glove Award at his camp.
This is the second consecutive year Anton, a striker for Kalaheo, has been in the pool.
Carlson is a midfielder and will be a freshman at Punahou, while Higa, a sweeper, will be a sophomore at Mid-Pacific.
David Gualdarama, a fullback/center midfielder from Kamehameha, made the Under-14 Region team.
Brent Murakami is in the Under-14 pool. He is a defensive center midfielder and will be a freshman at Mililani.
THE ODP selection process for next year begins this weekend with the Maui camp tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.
Big Island tryouts will be held Aug. 11-13 in Hilo and Aug. 18-20 in Waimea.
The Kauai tryouts are Aug. 25-27. Oahu's camp is Sept. 2-4.
The Olympic Development Program is open to any player regardless of high school, club or league affiliation.
All players receive a written evaluation and are notified of their selection to attend the Hawaii State tryouts in March.
The age groups are for boys born in 1983 through 1988 and girls born in 1984 through 1988.
The cost is $100. For further information, call Herb or Michelle Schreiner at 395-9592 or e-mail hawaii.odp@gte.net.
Soccer Buzz Magazine ranks the 2000 University of Hawaii Wahine recruiting class among the Best of the Rest (12th to 18th) in the West Region.
This puts the Wahine in the top 100 nationally. There are 272 NCAA Division I women's soccer teams, an increase of 10 from 1999.
It's the first time a UH soccer recruiting class has been so recognized.
The Wahine recruits are Arlene Devitt, Liz Lusk and Kalena Eaton.
