WICHITA, Kan.—
Major change is the theme of the 2012 Trinity Academy girls’ soccer team.Head Coach Tom Nykamp has to replace two All-State defensive players in sweeper Anne Coleman and goalie Meg McPherson. To replace Coleman, Nykamp has moved All-Region midfielder sophomore Brynley Orndorff to sweeper and has also moved All-State forward junior Ashley Burns to left back.
Replacing McPherson will be senior Allie Ruschen. With Ruschen, who suffered a severe concussion last year, the goalie position shouldn’t miss a beat as Nykamp heralds her to be stronger than McPherson at the position.
Something Nykamp and Assistant Coach Mark Brooks have struggled with in coaching girls’ soccer is fostering competitive spirit. While boys naturally take to the competitiveness of practice, girls don’t always want to compete.
“It’s really hard to get the girls competitive,” said Brooks. “You’ve got to breed it.”
In order to foster that competitive spirit, Brooks and Nykamp have decided to use an objective grading system to grade the girls’ performance in practice. The grading system was adapted from North Carolina’s women’s soccer program that was dominant during the 90’s and early 00’s.
This system aids the coaches in choosing the best 11 to put on the field. The program is completely objective and helps them see if what their eyes tell them matches what the stats say.
It also helps when explaining to parents and players alike why each person is in the starting 11.
“We don’t have to argue with people who think that they are better,” said Brooks.
Trinity will begin the season against Elyria on Tuesday, Mar. 27.
