TUKWILA, WA, Sunday, December 14 – As the final whistle blew at dusk tonight, the Camas-Washougal U18 Wolves soccer team became the 2014 State Rec Champions, beating the Fall City Rovers 2-1 in a tightly played, sometimes intense match on a clear, cool afternoon at Starfire Sports Complex.
The feeling was euphoric as the exhausted, but jubilant team of high school seniors high-fived and hugged one another and then embraced their coach, Wayne Svilar, who came out of coaching retirement this year to get these boys back together for one final season.
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| From left to right (top row): Coach Wayne Svilar, Brooks Burns, Brennan Dyehouse, Drew King, Brad Stanchfield, Sam Johnson, Chad Kirby, Marshall Bratten, Coach Ryan Bratten. Front row: Ben Klave, Brendan Geigenmiller, Josh Harimoto, Nitten Beri, JJ Guo, Allan Huang, Liam Bradley, Konner Lessard, Colby Allen, and Brett Ball. |
And what a way to go out – as STATE CHAMPIONS.
The boys beat the Stingrays Saturday in semi-finals 3-0 in an extremely aggressive and often times, brutal, match that sent the former “Cheetahs” team into today’s finals at 3 pm.
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| Marshall Bratten in action during the semi-final game on Saturday. |
An early goal by Chad Kirby today put the Wolves ahead 1-0 in the first half. The Wolves dominated the first half, narrowly missing half a dozen shots, but leaving the Rovers hungry for a goal, which they would get, tying the score 1-1 in the second half. The Rovers nearly got another goal immediately after but were stopped by keeper Sam Johnson. The Rovers continued their intensity, but the Wolves would eventually resume command of the match. JJ Guo scored the second, and winning goal of the match.
Winning the state title is icing on the cake for these boys, whom most at one point played for Svilar as the Cheetahs in their earlier years. Svilar coached the rec team for many years, but eventually disbanded the team as boys took on other interests – such as playing JV or Varsity at Camas High School, or playing at the Select or Premier club levels.
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| Ben Klave gets ready to pass the ball at the Championship match. |
“They’re such a talented group of players,” said Svilar. “It’s been so great to have so many of them back for their final year. It’s been a real joy to coach them. Three months ago we didn’t see tonight happening. It’s amazing!”
Getting the boys back together was Ben Klave’s idea. Klave, an extremely talented soccer player, who has an absolute love of the sport, had advanced to Premier and also played for Camas High School. But, he got tired of the politics at the competitive levels, and decided to get the “Cheetahs” reunited for one last season.
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| “I did nothing!” says Chad Kirby as an opponent is handed a yellow card. |
“I told Ben I’d coach if the boys would commit to practices and do the hard work,” said Svilar. “It was a rough start. Some days we’d only have eight kids at practice. Sometimes they’d get rusty and it would show on the field, but they never stopped, and that’s why we’re here today.”
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| The Wolves at the beginning of the match. |
The team’s assistant coach is Ryan Bratten, whose son Marshall, also plays on the team.
The team is comprised of the following players: Brooks Burns, Brennan Dyehouse, Drew King, Brad Stanchfield, Sam Johnson, Chad Kirby, Marshall Bratten, Ben Klave, Brendan Geigenmiller, Josh Harimoto, Nitten Beri, JJ Guo, Allan Huang, Liam Bradley, Konner Lessard, Colby Allen, and Brett Ball.
All will be graduating from Camas High School this coming June.
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| Josh Harimoto, Brad Stanchfield and Sam Johnson listen to the tournament director prior to receiving medals and their team trophy. |
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