A New Year...a New League...Great Results

The governing body overseeing Oregon high school athletics (the OSAA) made a revolutionary, and somewhat controversial, move last year to realign its leagues from a four level system to a six level system. The net result was a balancing of the power closer to the respective student population of competing schools. For schools such as Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, Oregon the realignment provided a more equitable level of competition for their league play.

For the second year, I was a volunteer coach for Glencoe's JV soccer program. Over the years, the school has developed a solid program. The league realignment provided Glencoe an opportunity take a leadership position in the Northwest Oregon Conference of the 5A division, and the program seized that opportunity this Fall. The Varsity boys finished first in the conference with an overall record of 15-1-1 and are in the midst of the playoffs for the OSAA 5A Championships.

The JV Team's success this year shows great promise for the program in seasons to follow, for they compiled an impressive 13-1-0 record with 76 goals for, 9 against. Defensively, the backline players were menacing, hard working and dominant in the air. The midfield was a combination of workhorses and play-making tactitcians, while up front a combination of quickness and artistic creativity produced the offensive threats resulting in the ball frequently resting in opponents' nets. Success at the JV level does not always guarantee Varsity success...but the Glencoe program has a solid foundation to maintain their leadership in the Northwest Oregon Conference and the newly formed 5A division.