Lady Vikings honor their continued success with ceremony releasing homing pigeons. Alison O’Toole, Emily Diepenbrock, Grace Thompson, Hannah North, Tika Thorsen, and Stephanie Shaw. Photo courtesy of s. jaen black
10/22/09 Corrections: Please see comments below post
By s. jaen black
The Lady Viking Soccer Team took it to sudden death before scoring the winning goal in the low scoring 2-1 game; thus ending their 2009 home season to the roar of the thrilled crowd gathered Tuesday, Oct. 20.
However, the real triumph started before the game.
Until the fall of 2007, there was no girls’ soccer program here on Orcas. The girls used to play in the shadow of the boys’ program. They were allowed to practice and scrimmage with the boys…. (please see comments posted below this story.)
Bridget O’Toole was one of these girls, and in 2007 when eleven girls showed up to be a part of the coed team, she decided it was time they had their own program. She organized meetings with the school sports director, Jaylin Peacock, the head coed coach, Terry Turner and the team at large to vote on moving forward with a dedicated girls team.
O’Toole also recruited Chama Anderson, then the assistant coach of the coed team, to be the coach of the girls squad. The plan worked because these girls negotiated the powers that be, they raised the $8,000 it took to fund the team, and made it happen.
So, it was with great pride that Bridget O’Toole, now assistant coach of the team, organized the brief ceremony before the LaConner game to honor six of the girls on the original team. Seniors now, this was to be their final home game.
The players trotted out to centerfield, lined up, each releasing a homing pigeon, (only on Orcas), serving as metaphor for the pursuit and celebration of lofty goals. These girls, featured in the photo, are Bridget’s younger sister, Alison O’Toole, Emily Diepenbrock, Grace Thompson, Hannah North, Tika Thorsen, and Stephanie Shaw.
Though Coach Chama Anderson has been involved with soccer for thirty years, this is her first head coach assignment. She is so honored to be a part of this remarkable group of girls. The fact that these girls are so well-loved and supported has contributed greatly to the quick success of the team.
Chama is one of those coaches that see her sport as a dance that can provide great lessons to serve these athletes for life. She speaks of opportunities to enhance clarity of mind, to quickly make decisions, and listen to their true voices when under pressure. As for the future, Chama has a lot of faith in these girls’ ability to do well, and feels anything is possible.
It is moments like Tuesday afternoon that make a person so glad to be a citizen of Orcas Island. Beside the background beauty of the mountains on that green field, despite the remote nature of our home, history is made here all the time because this is a community of people of great spirit, innovative thinkers of all ages, and above all, great heart. Lady Vikings ROCK!!
Way to go, Lady Vikings, and SUPER way to go, Bridget and Alison!!
Way to go, Lady Vikings, and SUPER way to go, Bridget and Alison!!
Way to go, Lady Vikings, and SUPER way to go, Bridget and Alison!!
THANK YOU for this brilliant article on our beloved Lady Vikings!!
There is just one correction to be made, however. Not only were the girls allowed to play in the boys games, Bridget O’Toole, and many other girls were often out running and out maneuvering their male opponents!
It has been and honor and pleasure to witness what these amazing young women have created and thrived at!!
On To State Lady Vikings!!!
THANK YOU for this brilliant article on our beloved Lady Vikings!!\
There is just one correction to be made, however. Not only were the girls allowed to play in the boys games, Bridget O’Toole, and many other girls were often out running and out maneuvering their male opponents!\
It has been and honor and pleasure to witness what these amazing young women have created and thrived at!!\
On To State Lady Vikings!!!
THANK YOU for this brilliant article on our beloved Lady Vikings!!
There is just one correction to be made, however. Not only were the girls allowed to play in the boys games, Bridget O’Toole, and many other girls were often out running and out maneuvering their male opponents!
It has been and honor and pleasure to witness what these amazing young women have created and thrived at!!
On To State Lady Vikings!!!
Cheers and congratulations to the Lady Viking soccer team. They have come a long way in a few short years. The team and it’s coaches embody the dedication, sportsmanship, competetive spirit, team work, and scholarship that are the highest aspirations of high school sports programs. The game against LaConner was one of the best played and most exciting matches I have witnessed in my years of coaching here on Orcas.
In regard tot he history of the team, Lynsey Smith (former co-ed player) is correct in regards to the old “co-ed” soccer team. From it’s inception we had girls who not only played, but started on the “boy’s” squad, year after year. And yes indeed the women often out played the men. Our approach was that student team members were given playing time based on the normal considerations of any high school varsity sport, regardless of the student’s gender. And this simple thing is what attracted many of the women to the team. They knew that they would be able to compete on an equal footing with the guys. If they won or lost, outplayed the guys or got outplayed, it was honest head-to-head competition. Over the years of the co-ed team I asked the girls on a number of occasions if they would rather play on an all girls team, or if I should try and organize a game for them against an all-girls team. The answer was almost universally… “No! We like playing against the boys.”
However, with the number of girls wanting to play soccer increasing over the years, it really was time to start a team of their own. Congratulations to Coach Bridget for making it happen and to all the team’s success.
On to State!
Cheers and congratulations to the Lady Viking soccer team. They have come a long way in a few short years. The team and it’s coaches embody the dedication, sportsmanship, competetive spirit, team work, and scholarship that are the highest aspirations of high school sports programs. The game against LaConner was one of the best played and most exciting matches I have witnessed in my years of coaching here on Orcas.\
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In regard tot he history of the team, Lynsey Smith (former co-ed player) is correct in regards to the old “co-ed” soccer team. From it’s inception we had girls who not only played, but started on the “boy’s” squad, year after year. And yes indeed the women often out played the men. Our approach was that student team members were given playing time based on the normal considerations of any high school varsity sport, regardless of the student’s gender. And this simple thing is what attracted many of the women to the team. They knew that they would be able to compete on an equal footing with the guys. If they won or lost, outplayed the guys or got outplayed, it was honest head-to-head competition. Over the years of the co-ed team I asked the girls on a number of occasions if they would rather play on an all girls team, or if I should try and organize a game for them against an all-girls team. The answer was almost universally… “No! We like playing against the boys.”\
\
However, with the number of girls wanting to play soccer increasing over the years, it really was time to start a team of their own. Congratulations to Coach Bridget for making it happen and to all the team’s success.\
\
On to State!
Cheers and congratulations to the Lady Viking soccer team. They have come a long way in a few short years. The team and it’s coaches embody the dedication, sportsmanship, competetive spirit, team work, and scholarship that are the highest aspirations of high school sports programs. The game against LaConner was one of the best played and most exciting matches I have witnessed in my years of coaching here on Orcas.
In regard tot he history of the team, Lynsey Smith (former co-ed player) is correct in regards to the old “co-ed” soccer team. From it’s inception we had girls who not only played, but started on the “boy’s” squad, year after year. And yes indeed the women often out played the men. Our approach was that student team members were given playing time based on the normal considerations of any high school varsity sport, regardless of the student’s gender. And this simple thing is what attracted many of the women to the team. They knew that they would be able to compete on an equal footing with the guys. If they won or lost, outplayed the guys or got outplayed, it was honest head-to-head competition. Over the years of the co-ed team I asked the girls on a number of occasions if they would rather play on an all girls team, or if I should try and organize a game for them against an all-girls team. The answer was almost universally… “No! We like playing against the boys.”
However, with the number of girls wanting to play soccer increasing over the years, it really was time to start a team of their own. Congratulations to Coach Bridget for making it happen and to all the team’s success.
On to State!