Sports

Co-Ed Soccer offers sports and fun to high-schoolers.

Emily Topping
October 8, 2013

Students at West Linn enjoy playing through the Willamette United Soccer Club.

Among the many activities available in West Linn, often competitive and time consuming, co-ed soccer offers a different approach to sports. A less aggressive version of the sport many at WLHS play, co-ed soccer combines both boys and girls for weekly games and practices.

“Co-ed is mostly for fun,” Colby Gray, senior, and member of the program said. “We don’t really practice too hard, we mostly mess around.”

The Willamette United Soccer Club gives high-schoolers an alternative to playing soccer through school. The league tries to hold open spots for players who tried out for their high school teams, but weren’t chosen. Because of co-ed’s popularity it is important to sign up early. Also, the earlier one registers, the more likely it is to be placed on a team with friends. Although the sport may not be taken as seriously, players still try their best to succeed.

“We go hard,” Annie Roethe, junior, said, referring to her team’s aggressive manner. “We’re out here to win.”

Some may worry that having both boys and girls would be unfair, but Gray guaranteed that is not the case. “The girls are just as good as the boys, and we all play as a team so it works out,” he said.

WUSC teams play against teams from Lake Oswego, Tualatin, Tigard and Sherwood. One to two practices are held during the week, including running and drills, to prepare players for the Saturday games. The goal of the program is to have a good time and bond with teammates, while improving as a player. Sign ups for fall 2014 will be available online next March.

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About the Contributor

Emily Topping, Co-editor-in-chief

Ever since Emily Topping, senior, was young she hoped to make a difference on american culture. With her unique outlook on life, strong work ethic and dedication to journalism, she is sure to achieve her goal. Unlike most students on the staff, Topping started out writing for the Amplifier after being recommended by Ann Breyne, her freshman English teacher. Not only did she start out as a reporter on the staff, skipping the mandatory introductory class, but she also earned the title as The People Editor. “After Ann read some of my writing and found out about my wish to become a broadcast journalist, she insisted I join the school newspaper my sophomore year,” Topping said. “I decided to join, thinking it would be a good way to start my future career.” She has grown to love the fast pace of the class and enjoys how she is able to focus her energy on a task she is passionate about. After almost three years on the staff, Topping was announced the co-editor-in-chief for her senior year. Not only does Topping channel her energy into journalistic writing, but also into numerous other activities. These include acting, creative writing and all forms of visual art. She hopes these will help to shape her future. “I began going to acting workshops my sophomore year, and I still attend them every monday after school,” Topping said. These workshops focus on scene studies and creating showcases to perform. “My focus used to be towards acting, but has now changed to film and writing,” Topping said. To pursue her love of writing, Topping has an intention of writing a small piece everyday. She tends to write about her thoughts, opinions or interesting things that happen. Topping also draws, paints and/or takes photos weekly. “My dad used to be super involved with art and kind of pushed me to stick with it,” Topping said, “We’d draw pictures together all the time when I was younger.” She is still taking art classes, but over her high school career wasn’t able to take as many as she would have liked. Topping has changed her focus from acting to broadcast journalism and now towards filming. In an ideal world she hopes to film/create documentaries to combine her love of journalism and film. Whatever Topping ends up pursuing, she is sure to meet her purpose of making an impact on the world around her. “Whether it’s directly or by simply creating something helpful, I hope to make a difference.”