Each week, Agoura Hills Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.
This week, we've got Whiz Kids: the AYSO U11 Boys Extra Soccer Team. This dynamic group of fifth and sixth graders is a force to be reckoned with on the soccer pitch. Featuring an all-star line up of the finest under-11 AYSO players in the region, this team has kids from a variety of local schools. The team was formed in April 2010 and consists of players from two different top teams, two different club teams and players from the regular AYSO program.
AYSO Extra is a soccer program for players who want a higher level of competition and training, but also want to be able to participate in other sports. It combines volunteer coaching with paid trainers, and its cost is less expensive than club soccer. In addition, all players play three-quarters of the game, thus ensuring that they get maximum game experience.
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The team is coached by longtime AYSO coach Jim Pieczynski. Pieczynski has brought years of experience to help guide this talented group of players through the regular season all the way through to the State Championship finals.
After the regular season, the team moved on to the Section Playoffs, winning three games in pool play as well as the semi-final game, which got them into the championship game. In the championship, they tied an undefeated team from Newbury Park 0-0 after regulation and two overtime periods. The team lost the game afer having to go to an unbelievable 11 rounds of penalty kicks. Because the team made it to the championship game, they were invited to the State Championships in West Garden Grove.
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The state championship game was against Tustin (which beat the undefeated Newbury Park in the semi-final game 3-1). The team played incredibly, winning the game 8-3, culminating a year of hard work and jelling as a team.
Whiz Kids: Ryan Bishop, Ben Buckley, Jack Compton, Jared Catone, Will Draper, Evan Liner, Matt Neville, Brenden Pieczynski, Henri Schreifels, Spencer Shearer, Darren Solursh, Nick Stephens.
Grades: Fifth and sixth
Schools: Bay Laurel Elementary School, Red Oak Elementary School, Colina Middle School, St. Patrick's School, Westlake Hills Elementary School, Oak Hills Elementary School, Sumac Elementary School, White Oak Elementary School, Willow Elementary School, Yerba Buena Elementary School
Accomplishment: AYSO Extra Boys U11 State Champions
Key to awesomeness: "Winning meant to me that our team worked really hard, and it definitely paid off," said Coach Pieczynski's son, Brenden. "Coach Jim had been giving us the extra oomph at practice, and it paid off!" said player Ben Buckley. "It was really cool to win the state championship. It will be something I will remember for a long time," said player Darren Solursh. "This team is special, because we are all friends and like hanging out on and off the field. Winning something like the state championship with your friends makes it even cooler."
