Between games, team members explored Austrian culture, including visiting Mozart’s home in Salzburg, making strudel and playing soccer in the Alps. “Everything we did was a blast,” says Starr. “It was a huge cultural learning experience.” After the win in 2010, Starr sat out the 2011 games. This year, head coach Mike Darlington, with assistance from Andrew Corry and Javier Vazquez, has picked up the gauntlet. Darlington, who was named Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year by the California Youth Soccer Association for District 9 (which encompasses Northern California), is equally dedicated. Under Darlington’s tutelage, the players, many of whom are on high school or club teams, practice twice a week. “When you play competitive soccer, you basically play all year round,” he says. “We’ll have one tournament every month until June and we’ll do ‘friendlies’ (noncompetitive games) and scrimmages in between.” Cultural exchange and a love of soccer aside, making the trip to Klagenfurt is costly: $3,200 for each player. “We’ve been concentrating on fundraising constantly,” says Bridgette Jacobsen, mother of player Karli Hudson, who hopes to accompany her daughter to Austria. “It’s been stressful, but we’re hopeful.” Darlington says the cost of the trip is a primary concern for families. “We probably spend more time fundraising than practicing at this point,” he says. “We’re talking about $60,000 to send my whole team.
We’re going to be over there for eight or nine days. You have hotels, airfare, the cost of the tournament, uniforms. It’s not cheap.” Team fundraising efforts have included raffles, recycling, car washes and soliciting donations from the community and local businesses. For 15-year-old freshman Hudson, who plays varsity soccer at Foothill High School, the United World Games represents dream fulfillment. “I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” she says. “I’ve never played anyone except around here. Although the rules of the game are the same, different players have different styles.” Hudson, like her teammates, is driven by her passion for the game and her goal of reaching the United World Games in Klagenfurt. “It’s taking up every single weekend,” she says. “It gets really exciting when people donate because it’s one step closer to a dream all of us have.”• teamusa2012@yahoo.com www.college-prep-soccer.com
Claudia Mosby is a writer and part-time college instructor. She leads workshops on writing memoir, journaling as spiritual practice, and writing basics for new writers. She lives in Redding with her husband and mischievous cat Hobo, where she also writes a column on midlife and family for the Record Searchlight.
Exceptional Living
62 Enjoy April 2012
Radio Program