West Plains Zizzer Soccer

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has announced 2007 NSCAA Team Academic Award Winners for exemplary performance in the classroom as a team during the 2006-07 academic year. The West Plains Zizzers are one of the Boys Team Academic Award Winners. To qualify for the award, the team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.25 for the entire academic year and the coach must be a member of the NSCAA. The team GPA is determined by adding every player’s GPA, then dividing by the number of players. (West Plains High School 3.38)

Congratulations Boys!

The rosters have been announced for the Southwest Senior All-Star Game which will be held in June at the Cooper Soccer Complex. The event is co-sponsored by Springfield Soccer Club and SGFsoccer.com. The Zizzers will be represented by three selections: Brice Hunt, Justin Scicluna, and Stuart Ziegler. For the complete list, check out the article on SGFsoccer.com.

More information on the games can be found on the All-Star Game website.

Just a reminder that the soccer banquet will be held on Thursday, November 29 at 6:00pm in the High School Cafeteria. Please make plans to attend our last event of the Fall Season.

The 2007 All-Ozark Conference Teams have been announced. The Zizzers are represented with 3 First Team selections, 1 Second Team selection, and 1 Honorable Mention selection. The Teams are listed below.

2007 All-Ozark Conference Boys Soccer Teams

First Team

Blake Aggus, Junior, Joplin
Josh Baldwin, Senior, Camdenton
Grant Bollig, Junior, Lebanon
Lane Chapman, Junior, Kickapoo
Bryce Collier, Junior, Hillcrest
Michael Davis, Senior, Waynesville
Max Duncan, Sophomore, Joplin
Tim Griffin, Junior, Parkview
Will Griffin, Senior, Parkview
Zack Hay, Senior, Kickapoo
Brice Hunt, Senior, West Plains
Adam Legg, Senior, Kickapoo
Nate Lipps, Senior, Camdenton
Kam Maddy, Senior, Rolla
Patrick McCarthy, Senior, Glendale
John McDermid, Junior, Joplin
Richard McNulty, Senior, Rolla
Heath Melugin, Senior, Kickapoo
Devon Newport, Junior, Glendale
Justin Rogers, Senior, Glendale
Justin Scicluna, Senior, West Plains
Tyler Sinnott, Junior, Rolla
Ryan Squires, Junior, Glendale
Kyler Temple, Senior, Kickapoo
Stuart Ziegler, Senior, West Plains

Second Team

Graham Basecke, Junior, Glendale
Preston Bates, Senior, Kickapoo
Matt Beckett, Senior, Parkview
Andrew Chism, Junior, Rolla
Jeff Dorhauer, Sophomore, Camdenton
Garrett Fester, Senior, Rolla
Zach Helms, Senior, Camdenton
Kyle Kutz, Junior, Parkview
Cody Martin, Sophomore, Rolla
Tyler McElroy, Senior, Glendale
Matt Medley, Junior, Parkview
Mark Medlin, Senior, Joplin
Raj Mishra, Senior, Rolla
Mike Moore, Senior, West Plains
Ryan Moses, Junior, Kickapoo
Ian Newport, Junior, Glendale
Victor Poroj, Senior, Joplin
Brock Ruggeri, Junior, Kickapoo
Skyler Russell, Sophomore, Kickapoo
Chamal Samaranayake, Senior, Rolla

Honorable Mention

Tyler Bennett, Junior, Kickapoo
Chris Byington, Senior, Camdenton
Adam Daily, Senior, Rolla
Tucker Downs, Senior, Glendale
Michael Freeman, Sophomore, Hillcrest
Adam Hammons, Senior, Glendale
Chris Maddox, Sophomore, Glendale
TC Ross, Senior, Joplin
Chris Saner, Senior, West Plains
Colton Sexton, Senior, Kickapoo
Darren Shaw, Junior, Parkview
Eric Smith, Senior, Waynesville
Kyle Strief, Junior, Lebanon
Braden Swineburg, Senior, Camdenton
Kyle Varner, Sophomore, Waynesville

The Missouri State High School Soccer Coaches Association has announced the Class 2 All-Region Team for Western and Southwestern Missouri. The Region is made up of teams in Class 2 Districts 5 & 6. There are 17 teams that make up the Region. The Zizzers had 3 All-Region selections: Brice Hunt, Justin Scicluna, and Stuart Ziegler. The complete All-Region Team follows.

Player of the Year – TJ Martin, Webb City
Offensive Player of the Year – Uziel Franco, Cassville
Defensive Player of the Year – Tanner Roberts, Bolivar
Goalkeeper of the Year – Anthony Larson, Cassville
Coach of the Year – Brian Wilbanks, Cassville

All-Region Team

Cole Beckham, Carthage, Sophomore, Midfielder
Pater Casey, Bolivar, Senior, Forward
Uziel Franco,Cassville, Junior, Forward
Nelson Guzman, Carthage, Senior, Back
Michael Handley, Webb City, Senior, Midfielder
Dallas Herndon, Harrisonville, Junior, Midfielder
Brice Hunt, West Plains, Senior, Midfielder
Aaron Jamieson, Cassville, Junior, Back
Zech King, Harrisonville, Senior, Forward
Anthony Larson, Cassville, Senior, Keeper
Shayne Luehrs, Warrensburg, Sophomore, Forward
TJ Martin, Webb City, Senior, Midfielder/Forward
Daniel O’Connell, O’Hara, Senior, Back
Tanner Roberts, Bolivar, Senior, Back
Ryan Schlichtman, Cassville, Senior, Forward
Justin Scicluna, West Plains, Senior, Midfielder
Josh Taylor, Warrensburg, Junior, Forward
Ryan Toombs, Bolivar, Senior, Midfielder
Anthony Walker, O’Hara, Senior, Forward
Matt Watson, Harrisonville, Senior, Forward
Stuart Ziegler, West Plains, Senior, Forward

Team Rankings

1. Cassville (22-3-0)
2. Bolivar (21-3-1)
3. Harrisonville (19-6-1)
4. West Plains (17-8-0)
5. Carthage (14-6-0)
6. Webb City (18-4-0)
7. Warrensburg (13-13-0)
8. O’Hara (13-10-0)
9. Carl Junction
10. Monett

Academic All-Ozark Conference Selections have been announced.

Zizzers receiving Academic All-Ozark Conference recognition are:
Karan Bhargava, Mike Moore, Brandon Wood, and Stuart Ziegler

Zizzers receiving Honorable Mention Academic All-Ozark Conference recognition are:
Shane Corl, Brice Hunt, Chris Saner, Ethan Stoops, and Dylan York.

Good work guys!

It has taken me awhile to sit down and write this, but there is a need to have closure before moving on to the next chapter in life. The season didn’t end the way we hoped it would. We all have dreams of succeeding at the highest levels and that helps to motivate us. We don’t always reach those goals, but that doesn’t mean we hang our heads.

There are a few things about this year’s team that really stand out in my mind.

First, is their willingness to be there for each other. There were a few occassions this year, where there were things happening that were more important than soccer. I was proud of the way the boys were there for their teammates during those times.

Second, is the unselfishness that the boys showed. Granted they didn’t always show it, but as the season went along I thought it showed. A couple of games in particular stick out in my memory. The Marshfield game in which Stuart scored 4 Goals to tie the team singe game record. We have never let a player score more than 4 Goals in a game, because we don’t feel there is a need for it to ever happen. I didn’t realize Stuart had scored 4 Goals at the time. But instead of trying to get that 5th Goal, Stuart tried to set up Chris Saner for a Hattrick. The second game that comes to mind was Senior Night, where 10 different players scored goals and the team kept trying to set up players who hadn’t scored before.

Third, is the way they handled adversity. Several times throughout the season, key players were missing or playing out of position due to injuries or other things. To see players step up and play and not make excuses was good to see.

Fourth, is the fact that we went the entire season without being shutout. We scored at least one goal in every game we played. I didn’t say anything about it as the end of the regular season approached, but Saner did as we were warming up up for the Parkway Central game. As we got to the second Overtime 0-0, I thought he had jinxed it, but we kept the streak alive – 26 Games and counting (including the Hannibal game last November). We have never had a team with that much confidence and firepower offensively.

As we started to go through individual talks with the players yesterday, it was good to hear that they enjoyed the season even though it didn’t end the way we wanted it to end. That is what we want. We want them to enjoy the time with their teammates, have fun and learn some things about soccer and about life. True success is not measured by wins and losses. It is about the journey from the beginning of one year until the end. It is a journey of highs and lows. That journey, and the people you take along with you are what makes soccer great. There is a song by Green Day that comes to mind at the end of each season because I think it’s very appropriate for players and parents – Time of Your Life.

Time of Your Life by Green Day

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to do.
So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why.
It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time.

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind.
Hang it on a shelf of good health and good time.
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial.
For what it’s worth, it was worth all the while.
I hope you had the time of your life.

I hope you had the time of your life.

We will have one more chance to get together and bring some closure to the season for all of us at the banquet on Thursday, November 29 at 6:00pm at the WPHS Cafeteria.

For now, I want to thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to coach you (players) or your sons (parents). It has truly been an honor. These are young men that we can all be proud. Parents, thanks for all of the support you have given your boys and the Zizzer Soccer Program. Senior Parents, we will miss you and your sons.

I’ll leave you with a few notes last notes on this year’s Seniors. We will be losing 13 Seniors to Graduation. Some of these young men have been part of our program for 4 years and some for less. The last 4 years have been some of the most successful in Zizzer Soccer History in terms of wins and losses. The Varsity Record over the last 4 years is 60-38-4 and 51-23-4 over the last 3 years. That includes our second ever District Championship and first ever trip to the Final Four. Over the last two years, West Plains was ranked in 9 straight State Rankings getting as high as #3 after the Final Four last year.

Thanks – we’ll see you all at the banquet.

The Class 2 District 5 All-District Teams have been announced.

First Team

Luke Bayless – Senior – Back – Carthage
Cole Beckham – Sophomore – midfielder – Carthage
Peter Casey – Senior – Forward – Bolivar
J.T. Chirwa – Senior – Midfielder – Carl Junction
Ross Delossantos – Sophomore – Back – Cassville
Uziel Franco – Junior – Forward – Cassville
Ethan Greer – Senior – Back – Webb City
Nelson Guzman – Senior – Back – Carthage
Michael Handley – Senior – Midfielder – Webb City
Brice Hunt – Senior – Midfielder – West Plains
Aaron Jameison – Junior – Back – Cassville
Anthony Larson – Senior – Keeper – Cassville
TJ Martin – Senior – Midfielder – Webb City
Tanner Roberts – Senior – Back – Bolivar
Ryan Schlichtman – Senior – Forward – Cassville
Justin Scicluna – Senior – Midfielder – West Plains
Mitchell Strouse – Senior – Back – Monett
Ryan Toombs – Senior – Midfielder – Bolivar
Stuart Ziegler – Senior – Forward – West Plains

2nd Team

Matt Angel – Sophomore – Midfielder – Cassville
Matt Arnold – Senior – Back – Carthage
Dale Baker – Junior – Keeper – Bolivar
Richie Carson – Senior – Keeper – Carl Junction
Matt Frazier – Junior – Back – Cassville
Landon Grider – Junior – Back – Bolivar
Matt Magana – Freshman – Forward – Bolivar
Mike Moore – Senior – Back – West Plains
Humberto Morales – Junior – Midfielder – Monett
Andrew Norvell – Senior – Back – Webb City
Luis Ortega- Junior – Midfielder – Cassville
Jackson Patillo – Freshman – Midfielder – Willard
Lorenzo Salas – Junior – Midfielder – Carthage
Chris Saner – Senior – Forward – West Plains
Austin Webber – Junior – Back – Webb City
Duell Wilson – Senior – Back – Marshfield

Honorable Mention

Manny Alfaro – Junior – Forward- Webb City
Joe Curti – Freshman – Forward – Carthage
Caleb Dye – Senior – Forward – Carl Junction
Nathaniel Keating – Senior – Back – West Plains
Jose Lopez – Sophomore – Midfielder – Monett
Robert Martin – Sophomore – Forward – Marshfield
Klay Norman – Sophomore – Back – West Plains
Uriel Rueda – Sophomore – Forward – Monett
Parlie Shikany – Junior – Midfielder – Willard
Kyle Slagle – Sophomore – Back – Bolivar
Adam Spaulding – Senior – Midfielder – Bolivar
Bradley Stillwagon – Sophomore – Midfielder – Bolivar
Omar Valenzuela – Junior – Midfielder – Cassville
Corey Wilbanks – Junior – Midfielder – Cassville

Coach of the Year: Brian Wilbanks – Cassville

Congratulations to all these young men!