REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ODP POOL PLAYERS

2005-06 Regional Pool Players

1989 Girls 

• Grace Barnard (GK)
• Gretchen Miller

1989 Boys

• Kyle Manscuk

1990 Girls

•  Jessie Dulski (GK)
• Jill Guzylak
• Jessica Shufelt
• Laura Hansen (injured reserve)

1990 Boys

• Nate Bourdeau
• CJ Scirto
• Kyle Sniatecki

1991 Girls

•  Ashley Walsh (GK) (National Camp)

1991 Boys

• Gale Agbossoumonde
• Mike Radecke
• Mike Reidy

1992 Girls

• Samantha Dunn (National Camp)
• Courtney Mann
• Brianna Smith
• Kylie Strom
• Angela Williamson (GK)
• Maddy Tiddick (injured reserve)

1992 Boys

•  Brendan Kazmierski (GK)

1993 Girls

• Jackie Firenza
• Lindsay Haskins (GK)
• Mallory Illsley
• Christina Sarokon (GK)

1993 Boys

• Gianluca Cuomo
• Zander El-Hindi (alternate)

In addition to being selected for their respective regional pools, two players for NY West were invited into National pool events. Samantha Dunn (U14 girls) and Ashley Walsh (U15 girls) were both invited to attend National Pool training events.

GIRLS ODP COACH OF THE YEAR

BOYS ODP COACH OF THE YEAR

YOUNG FEMALE REFEREE OF THE YEAR

Stephanie McKay is a junior music education major at Nazareth College, where she also is a gospel choir director and active in the campus ministry. In high school, she participated in track & field and set a school record in the discus, played varsity basketball and was the soccer team’s leading scorer for five consecutive years. She has a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and still plays adult soccer in both Buffalo and Rochester leagues. As a referee, she has worked games in the Buffalo & Western NY Junior Soccer League and the Upstate NY leagues. Her referee supervisors consider her one of the most promising young referees in the state.

YOUNG MALE REFEREE OF THE YEAR

Daniel Cheatham is a sophomore at Syracuse University, majoring in Middle East Studies, where he has volunteered for the March of Dimes and other charities. He has worked as a mentor for middle school students and has helped construct playgrounds for both an elementary school and a middle school. In high school, he ran track and played baseball and was a two-year captain of the soccer team, leading the team to the NY State Class B finals in his senior year. His club team also made the NY West Final 4 in both 2003 and 2005. As a referee, he has centered matches up to U17 boys and U19 girls premier, and he has worked numerous tournaments in NY West and Pennsylvania, including the NY West Final 4 in 2006. He also spends time helping newer, younger referees and is generally regarded by senior referees as one of the most promising young referees in the state.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Finalists: Laurie Gentile & Dale Bell

Laurie Gentile is a founding board member of CNY United FC and has been an active volunteer with the Baldwinsville Youth Soccer Association since her eldest son began playing soccer nine years ago. She currently serves as the assistant registrar for the Baldwinsville YSA and manages both the U-13 and U-11 boy’s teams for CNY United FC. Laurie has also been an active fundraiser for CNY United and has been personally responsible for raising thousands of dollars in donations.

Dale Bell was an original Board Member of the Greater Homer Youth Soccer Association. He has been a volunteer in the association for more than 25 years. He played a significant role in the expansion of a small-town recreational league into a countywide program. Through the years, Dale has been active as a coach and a referee, as well as being the Director of Fields and Equipment and the Director of Referees. Dale has also been a leader in recruiting volunteers from the greater community to help support the association.

Volunteer of the Year: Dale Bell

FEMALE DEVELOPMENTAL COACH OF THE YEAR

Although Sally Marx never played or even saw soccer as a kid, she organized and helped form the Spencer Van Etten Soccer Club in 1989. She had to coach U-14s that first year because no one else would do it. Since then, she has coached one or more teams per season of all ages including the SVE School District’s junior varsity. Sally earned a D license many years ago and audited the C license recently. She helped form the SVE Soccer Club to enable the kids to play on local travel teams and competitive indoor teams. Sally comes from a rural area which is low income, so she has always stressed participation and equal opportunity for all players, regardless of income levels.

MALE DEVELOPMENTAL COACH OF THE YEAR

In 2000, Malcolm Kersey single handedly set about providing an alternative program to those already in existence in the Webster area of Rochester. He pioneered the small-sided game concept that many across the nation were moving toward. The use of age-appropriate activities combined with a "no team" concept has provided a benchmark program that is copied not only in this state but in many others as well. He bought or made all the equipment needed and lined and marked the fields in all kinds of weather to ensure the children were placed in appropriately sized areas. His Micro Soccer program - which started with just 40 players - has now grown to more than 400 and he continues to provide all his facilitators with detailed lesson plans to follow each week. Malcolm has a USSF National B License and a National Youth License.

GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

 Finalists: Maureen Dracup & Frank Martin

Maureen Dracup has played and coached for more than 25 years in NYSW. She holds a USSF National C license, NSCAA National Youth Diploma, NSCAA Goal Keeping Level I Designation and the English FA Psychology For Soccer, Level I designation. She is Director of Youth Development for TC United and coaches both boys and girls across all age groups and ability levels. She currently coaches a Premier team from BC United, a Travel team for Ithaca, the Lansing High School varsity girls and she is a NYW ODP Coach.

For the past seven years, Frank Martin has been the Director of Coaching and served on the Chili Soccer Association Board of Directors. He currently coaches the U-15 girls as well as the U-9 boys. Frank has continued his education and has earned his USSF D license. He also teaches a soccer program for the Churchville Chili Continuing Education Program called "Just 4 Kicks."

Girls Coach of the Year: Maureen Dracup

BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR

 Finalists: Rick Anthony & Mark Spacone

Rick Anthony has been coaching the CNY United Storm U-11 boys for the past two years and has always served as a positive role model for the children. Rick’s dedication is evidenced by the fact that all of his player’s parents took the time to nominate him for this award.

Mark Spacone holds a USSF A License and a USSF National Youth License. He has been a NY West ODP Staff Coach for five years, a NYW Academy Coach for three years and a NYW Coaching Staff Instructor as well as a high school and club Coach for several years. Mark also has been a TOPSoccer volunteer and coach for four years. His passion for the game is second to none and he always insists that his players play with dignity. Mark is a co-founder of the US National Soccer Team Fan Club - SAMS Army, which he helped start in 1994.

Boys Coach of the Year: Mark Spacone

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Because of his passion for soccer, Albert Odenbach dedicated most of his adult life to the development of soccer in Western New York.

Growing up in Germany, Albert embraced the sport of soccer since the age of 6. When he came to the United States in 1949, soccer was being played on an informal basis and Albert came to realize the need for organized clubs and leagues in the Western New York area.

In the 1950’s, Albert was instrumental in forming Club Germania and a district league for adults. In the 1960’s, Albert saw the need for youth leagues and was integral in establishing the Buffalo and Western New York Junior Soccer League. It began with four teams and has currently grown to more than 200 travel teams in the Western New York area. Albert had a positive impact on the youth soccer population and expanded the Buffalo and Western New York Junior Soccer League to include girls teams at all age levels.

From 1959-1971, Albert Odenbach served as President of the Buffalo and District Soccer League and was Vice President of the Junior League for 22 years. He served as Secretary for Club Germania for 49 years.

Albert helped found the referee unit to provide trained referees for the leagues. He also worked many local and regional tournaments in a tireless fashion. In 1993, he served as an assessor for the referees from around the world during the World University Games in Buffalo and his evaluations were used by FIFA to determine the progress of game officials at the international level. This was a highlight of his career in soccer.

Albert served as President of the Federation of German-American Society of Buffalo and Vicinity for 30 years and was named German-American of the Year in 1993. In 1994, Albert was a finalist to represent Germany as a Mastercard "Ambassador of Soccer" for the 1994 World Cup.

Albert passed away on April 10, 2000. He is survived by his wife Ann, daughter Linda and son Robert, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. His booming voice, distinctive accent and his passion for soccer are greatly missed. The Buffalo and Western New York Junior Soccer League has dedicated a soccer tournament in Albert’s name called the Odenbach Cup to keep his passion of soccer alive.

Albert Odenbach will be remembered as an extraordinary individual who gave a positive contribution of unparalleled growth and achievement for the game of soccer in the Western New York area.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Oystein (Sandy) Ostebo retired in 1999 after teaching math at West Irondequoit High School in Rochester for four years and at Corning-Painted Post East High School for 30 years. Since then, he has served as the assistant coach for the girls varsity team in Corning (and still is).

Sandy started the boys soccer program in the Corning Painted Post School District and served as its head coach from its inception in 1982 until 1999.

He started the club travel program in Corning and coached all levels of travel teams for Corning United for 20 years.

He helped get numerous other club travel programs going throughout the Twin Tiers and neighboring areas - including Jasper-Troupsburg, Wayland Cohocton, Dansville and Spencer Van Etten - and conducted numerous coaching clinics throughout the region.

Sandy also served as the Twin Tiers District coach for the NYW ODP program for three years.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the NYS West Youth Soccer Association from 1988 to 2004, serving as Twin Tiers District Commissioner for this entire time as well as interim Executive Director for one and a half years and ODP Administrator for one year. He took over as President in December 2004 and served until August 2006. He is currently serving as Director of Public Affairs for NYW.

Sandy is originally from Oslo, Norway, where he played youth travel soccer for the club Skeid. He played college soccer at SUNY Binghamton, where he was a two-year varsity starter. In 1994, he was a finalist to represent Norway as a Mastercard "Ambassador of Soccer" for the 1994 Men’s World Cup.

Sandy holds USSF youth module coaching course diplomas and NSCAA National and Advanced National coaching licenses.

Oystein and his wife of 43 years, Donnalynn, have two grown children, Lisbet and Rebecca.