Headlines for the week of January 1, 2006:
Check out the Wizards at www.kcwizards.com
Public Relations position filled
The Kansas City Wizards announced today the hiring of new Public Relations Manager Sarah Hardy. Hardy, a Kansas State graduate, comes to the Wizards from the White House where she worked in the communications office.
In her role as Public Relations Manager, Hardy will be the point of contact for members of the media regarding activities on the technical side. She will coordinate the press box on game days and arrange player and coach interviews.
Hardy has worked in sports before as a member of the Kansas State University's Athletic Department Media Relations staff. A trip to Italy over the summer displayed for her the intensity futbol can evoke.
"I was in Italy during the World Cup championship game," Hardy said. "It was just unbelievable how passionate those fans were. I've really came to love soccer and the energy and enthusiasm the game can bring."
The hiring of Hardy is another step in the organization's concerted effort to reinvigorate the front office staff and provide the people of Kansas City with a more accessible product.
"I hope to bring a fresh perspective and a new sense of energy to this position," Hardy said. "I'd like to make the Kansas City Wizards familiar to everyone in the region."
Hardy has lived in the Kansas City metropolitan for 10 years. She graduated high school from Blue Valley North.
Technical staff to attend combine, SuperDraft
Kansas City Wizards' technical staff members including Technical Director Peter Vermes and Head Coach Curt Onalfo, along with the assistant coaches, leave for the MLS Player Combine today.
Major League Soccer announced the full rosters, game schedule, and coaches for the 2007 adidas MLS Player Combine at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Jan. 4-8. More than 60 top collegiate and youth prospects will be divided into four teams that will compete against each other in games coached by four prominent NCAA coaches. The players will also train and perform physical testing throughout the week.
The Combine gives MLS coaches and general managers a final chance to evaluate talent in preparation for their draft day selections. SuperDraft 2007 takes place on Jan. 12, in Indianapolis, Ind. at 12 p.m. ET. (ESPN2/MLSnet.com).
Combine participation is by invitation only. A committee of NCAA Division I coaches from every conference, along with MLS representatives, chooses seniors from schools throughout the country who have completed their college eligibility. Additional players are invited to the MLS Player Combine from Generation adidas, a joint program between MLS, adidas and the U.S. Soccer Federation that identifies and develops the best underclass and youth soccer prospects in the country to be professional players. A complete list of Generation adidas players will be announced prior to the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. All Combine participants are automatically eligible for the SuperDraft.
The 62 players were divided into the following teams:
adidas AZTECA
GK - Phil Marfuggi (Clemson University), F - Willy Guadarrama (Campbell University), F - Tommy Krizanovi (Jacksonville University), F - Adam Cristman (University of Virginia), F - Omar Cummings (University of Cincinnati), M - Nick LaBrocca (Rutgers University), M - Justin McGrane (Northern Illinois University), F - Simon Omekanda (Penn State University), F/M - Dane Richards (Clemson University), F - Mike Sambursky (University of South Carolina), M - Ryan Solle (Wake Forest University), D - Kyle Helton (Duke University), F - Randi Patterson (University of North Carolina - Greensboro), D - Justin Douglass (Missouri State University), D - Bakary Soumare (University of Virginia)
Coaches - John Rennie (Duke University) and Steve Nicols (Baltimore Bays)
adidas TANGO
GK - Nick Noble (West Virginia University), F/M - Karim Boukhemis (Marshall University), M - John Michael Hayden (Indiana University), M - Jared Kent (Old Dominion University), M - Steven Curfman (Wake Forest), F - Robbie Findley (Oregon State University), D - Ty Harden (University of Washington) D/M - Michael Harrington (University of North Carolina), F - Frederico Moojen (Clemson University), F/M - Nate Norman (University of Notre Dame), F - Jarrod Smith (West Virginia University), M - Luis Faz (NO INFO), F - John Cunliffe (Fort Lewis College), M - Abdus Ibrahim (NO INFO), M - Eric Ebert (University of California), D - Zach Kirby (Boston University)
Coach: Greg Andrulis (George Mason University) and Bruce Talbot (Capital Area Soccer League)
adidas TEAMGEIST
GK - Justin Hughes (University of North Carolina), F - Ryan Guy (University of San Diego), M - Scott Jones (University of North Carolina - Greensboro), M - Wells Thompson (Wake Forest University), F - Gerardo Alvarez (Northwestern University), M - Rich Asante (Syracuse University), M - Alex Cunliffe (Fairfield University), M - Chase Wileman (Southern Methodist University), F - Aaron Chandler (University of San Francisco), F/M - Josh Trott (College of the Holy Cross), M - Nico Colaluca (University of Virginia), D - Hugh MacDonald (Monmouth University), D - Billy Meier (University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee), M/D - Jay Needham (Southern Methodist University), F - Chris Loftus (Duke University),
Coach: Mike Noonan (Brown University) and Derek Armstrong (Nomads FC)
adidas TRICOLORE
GK - Tally Hall (San Diego State University), F/M - Corey Ashe (University of North Carolina), M - John DiRaimondo (St. Louis University), F/M - Sinisa Ubiparipovic (University of Akron), M - Greg Dalby (University of Notre Dame), F/M - Edson Elcock (Old Dominion University), F - Brad Evans (University of California - Irvine), M/D - Aaron Hohlbein (University of Wisconsin), D - Nigel Marples (Towson University), M - Josh Tudela (Indiana University), F - Erik Ustruck (Santa Clara University), F - Charles Altchek (Harvard University), F - Andrew Daniels (Brown University), F - Jerson Monteiro (University of Alabama at Birmingham), D - Steve Purdy (University of California)
Coach: John Trask (University of Illinois at Chicago) and Dale Schilly (Metro United)
FLOATING PLAYER
GK - Chris Konopka (Providence College)
MLS PLAYER COMBINE SCHEDULE
All games are open to the public. Training sessions and testing are closed.
Thurs. January 4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Player Performance Testing (Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel)
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Player Organizational Training / Small Sided Games (Las Palmas Soccer Complex - Sunrise, Fla.)
Friday, January 5
10:45 AM - 12:30 PM: Player Performance Testing (Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel)
12:00 PM: Tricolore & Teamgeist - Field Testing (Lockhart Stadium)
1:00 PM: Adidas Tricolore vs. adidas Teamgeist (Lockhart Stadium)
2:00 PM: Tango vs. Azteca - Field Testing (Lockhart Stadium - Auxillary Field)
3:00 PM: Adidas Tango vs. adidas Azteca (Lockhart Stadium)
Saturday, January 6
1:00 PM: adidas Tricolore vs. adidas Tango (Lockhart Stadium)
3:00 PM: adidas Teamgeist vs. adidas Azteca (Lockhart Stadium)
Sunday, January 7
10:00 AM: Coaches and GM Meeting (Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel)
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Athlete Testing and / or GK Session and / or Small Sided Games (Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Hotel; Las Palmas Soccer Complex - Sunrise, Fla.)
Monday, January 8
9:00 AM: adidas Tricolore vs. adidas Azteca Lockhart Stadium
11:00 AM: adidas Teamgeist vs. adidas Tango Lockhart Stadium
Zavagnin attends coaching conference
Kansas City Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin is currently attending a United States Soccer Foundation "A" Coaching License conference in Tampa, Florida. Zavagnin, who currently holds a USSF "B" license, is attending to make his goal of becoming a coach after his playing career a reality.
""I've always loved the game and I could tell from the moment I entered competitive soccer that I wanted to be around the game as long as possible," Zavagnin said. "My ultimate goal is to be a head coach after my playing days are over."
The conference, which runs January 2 - January 10 is an intensive program designed to train participants in specifics of the game including in-game strategy and adjustments, match analysis, training principles and functions of coaches within a team. While these sessions are specifically targeted to future coaches, Zavagnin has been preparing himself throughout his playing career.
"I've always taken notes as a player, even in college, regarding how I would make decisions once I become a coach," he said.
Daily, the sessions last from 7am-9pm and include three lecture hall periods and two on-field sessions. Zavagnin, known for his work ethic, continues his off-season running program in between sessions to maintain a high level of fitness for the 2007 season.
Raybould to visit Overland Trail Elementary Friday
Midfielder/Defender Ryan Raybould and Dynamo the Dragon will speak to the kids of Overland Trail Elementary in Overland Park Friday about achievement and success on and off the soccer field and goal setting. Dynamo will hand out academic awards to the kids after Ryan's speech.
Raybould, who has attended several other community events this offseason and is a Leawood native, enjoys helping out in his hometown.
Overland Trail Elementary has 600 students grades K-5 and is located off 135th and Nall.
Check out the Wizards at www.kcwizards.com
Exciting new content regarding the 2007 season is currently available at www.kcwizards.com. Below are links for a 2007 preview video and an Frequently Asked Questions page.
Preview video >
FAQ page >
