Success stems from the past: AYSO Young Warriors grow to Mighty Warriors
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Team members that played for the undefeated AYSO U-12 team and this season’s THS squad include David Veszpeller, Tyler Todd, Chris Boyd, Lucas Rowe, Freddy Benitez, Mark Minjares, Cameron Gamble, Jeremy Duff and Zach Satton. Caleb Beiswenger, Hayden Robinson and Jeremiah Sehorn were also members of the 2007 AYSO team.
Mountain Soccer is currently enjoying one of their best starts in school history, having just finished the pre-season with a 13-3 record and an impressive no.106 state ranking.
For some observers, the success that THS has enjoyed is not surprising. Results for this year’s high school soccer team have been eerily similar to 2007, when Tehachapi’s U-12 AYSO contingent reeled in an undefeated season and a Spring Select Division X Championship.
The present day Warriors recently had a memorable Liberty Tournament championship game victory over Garces, 9-0. Coincidentally, that tourney final was played on the same field that many of the Young Warriors won the AYSO championship in 2007 under the guidance of Coach Chris Todd.
“Coach Todd had a dream for grooming our boys into a talented club team, never taking any money for himself,” said parent Laszlo Veszpeller. “He alone is the one who inspired my son David to fall in love with soccer. Coach Todd put in a tremendous amount of work and believed that soccer should be affordable and available to (everyone).”
Many of the same players on the 2007 team are vested athletes on the current 2012-2013 Mountain Soccer squad. Those players include David Veszpeller, Tyler Todd, Chris Boyd, Lucas Rowe, Freddy Benitez, Mark Minjares, Cameron Gamble, Jeremy Duff and Zach Satton.
All nine players are all poised to try and add to their past success with the addition of talented teammates that have joined the program in recent years.
“I think that Tehachapi should definitely be excited about the future with these kids,” said Todd back in 2007. “There is some pure talent on this team; we are excited to see what they can do at the club level this upcoming season and eventually in high school. They should do very well up there.”
With a foundation created over five years ago, potential present day glory is within reach.
“We have one of the most complete teams we have ever had in our program,” said THS coach Roger Rijfkogel. “It’s thanks to a great support system that has made the players who they are today. We’re gunning for league and CIF. The dreams are big and the bar has been set high.”
