Mustangs Rev Up
for
Intense Soccer
Season
By Omar Tanamly (March 10, 2004)
Roughly 45 students, grades 8-12,
showed up for soccer tryouts on Monday, February 23 to fight for spots
on both the JV and varsity teams. While final cuts have not been made at
this time, head coach Art Iwanicki predicts roughly 20 players will be
chosen for each team. Along with Iwanicki, assistant coaches Frank Spinello
and Nathan Greiner prepare for this year’s season with rigorous pre-season,
daily practices.
| The Mustangs, who have
won three state championships, most recently in 2002, will return this
year lacking some of the formidable players they had last year. Players
Colin Nannery, Bubba Olsen, Grant Sabatier, Erik Toom, Chris Sabbatini,
and Joel Wray all graduated last year, leaving seniors Andrew Montgomery,
Peter Dittmar, and Peter Hamill to lead 2004’s team as co-captains. "We
also have good leadership with the co-captains," Iwanicki commented. With
a sprinkling of seniors, juniors, and sophomores, the 2004 George Mason
varsity team will have to work hard to make up for the strength they lost
last year, but Iwanicki is confident in his team.
"We don’t have any superstars, but
what we do have is a lot of solid players with some very good varsity experience,"
said Iwanicki. Other varsity players who have returned this year and ensured
their spot on the team include seniors Alex Fatovic, Sean O’Connor, Brian
O’Connor, Sayed Abu-Shark, juniors Paul Arnaudo, Josiah Larson, Ariel Toom,
and sophmores Sean Nannery and Mike Chaves. Others will be added to round
off the team. Iwanicki also noted the auspicious talent of forward Peter
Hamill, solid defensive players Dittmar and Chaves, along with the pleasant
surprise in new player from El Salvador, Hérbert Garcia. |
 |
Sporting new varsity jacket, junior
Dane Perera
dazzles his audience with tricky moves to control
the
ball |
 |
The varsity team plans
on playing some new schools, Dominion for example, and familiar opponents
from previous years, including Strasburg, Broad Run, and Manassas Park.
Clarke County and Rappahannock remain the team’s two biggest competitors.
The varsity will play the alumni team this Saturday, at 1:00 pm at George
Mason.
To see both teams’ game schedule,
go to http://www.gmsoccer.com. |
|
Junior Paul Arnaudo takes a free
kick during a
scrimmage at practice. |
|
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Tell us what you think.
E-mail lassogmhs@hotmail.com
|
