Ponoka will be well represented on the girls’ Zone 4 soccer team heading to the Alberta Summer Games in Airdrie this year.
Emma Bendera, Leah Jensen and Madison McLaren were all chosen to complete the team of 18 during soccer tryouts for the U13 girls’ and boys’ teams, held in Ponoka May 24 and 25.
Over 40 boys took their chances for the boys’ team and over 30 girls put in a great effort out for the girls’ team to represent Zone 4 in the Alberta Summer Games July 24 to 27.
Choosing the best players for both teams was a challenge, explained Dave McCarthy, Central Alberta Soccer Association technical director.
“There was a lot of discussion,” said McCarthy.
He told players that even if they were not picked, they should not be disheartened. Scouts and coaches were focused on putting a team together that would represent Zone 4 strongly.
“The key for us is making sure that we get the balance right,” he explained.
The boys’ head coach Wade Groenwegen van der Weiden, said there were many quality players and choosing went down to little details. At times he would look at six players for a specific position, knowing that he could only pick four.
“If our 15 best were strikers, we can’t take them all,” explained Groenwegen van der Weiden.
The girls’ scouts found similar difficulties in determining who would be a good addition to the team. Girls’ assistant coach Deanne Good said narrowing the number down to 18 was tough. Finding the right balance of leaders, followers and team players was her focus.
“We’re looking for the speed and the intensity and the skill level,” explained Good.