SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Girls Varsity Soccer All-Region 4-4A Girls Team

Congratulations to the girls that made the region team. It always seems that no matter who is selected or how they are selected it will upset some people. Some things I have just learned to live with. I am sure that there are deserving players that probably should be there that aren't. So why aren't there any players from OW on the region team?

Someone seems to think they know more than they REALLY do!

“If a player could show up to a practice or game, but choses not to simply because they can't play--where is the love of the team? They can't support their teammates, their friends anyway? That is selfish and they deserve to sit at the very least. Give ME a break...” - Do you know this for a fact or are you going on that fail proof system of the “he say she say”?

“I also hope some of those players needing discipline develop character if they plan on coming back next year." Are these your words are you simply repeating something you were told?


"2002-The Hornets made it to the 2nd round before losing to State Finalist Mauldin"
WRONG- Aiken lost in the 2nd round to Irmo after being up at half.

"2003-The Hornets made it to the 3rd round before losing to Upper State Runner Up Irmo"
WRONG- The Lady Hornets lost to Mauldin, a game in which their lone goal was scored off a header by none other than Meghan Wetzel!

"2005-The Hornest made it to the 1st round before losing to some team name Mauldin who is in the Upper State Championship tonight. They were completely blown out by a gigantic margin of two goals."
-Think you should check the stats on this one as well... Aiken fought hard to make it a close game though, but not that close.

Aren't you the same little girl that sent me a message saying you did not want to argue anymore-"I'll leave you alone and you leave me alone."???

The 2005 comment was something called sarcasm. Have your resource teacher help you with that one.

Forgive me for switching 2003-04, but does that take away from Ron's accomplishments? Does the fact that I misplaced numbers take away from what they've done? I do not think so.

I'm sorry that you feel I am uneducated on this situation. I happen to have lived in Aiken longer, attended school in Aiken longer, played soccer for Aiken longer, and know more information about both programs than the good Lord will ever allow you to accumulate. But don't let that upset, we can still be friends! All you need to do is put a little more sunblock on that neck and the problem should clear up in a couple of days.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Coach Johnson at all but I do believe the girls on the team contributed to the team's success as well! I have left you alone but you speak on a situation close to me without knowing full fact and I felt compelled to speak out on it since you decided to post you some "information" on this board for all to read. And thank you for letting me know about your background but I happen to live in Aiken now and have lived there for sometime. I am also proud to say I have been a Varsity Lady Hornet for the last four year including this one. And have represented Aiken on many soccer teams. Maybe you know more or simply think you know more but I have acquired a great knowledge over the years and for what I do not know I seek to find answers to. And you last little “sunblock comment” that was a good one! - This would be “something called sarcasm” I have been the only minority on this Aiken team for many years and do not have an affluent family to support me support me but I am one who has spent years struggling to earn money to play and learn about this game. So basically you’re not funny !!!! I simply do not appreciate you trying to degrade the character of a fine young woman and incredible soccer player on this board!

But back to the point, Ron has done well with the team. Qualifying for playoffs as far as we can track, more 2nd round appearances than 1st, several invitations to the Viking Cup-all of these warrant a bit of respect to him and the girls of Aiken High.

I did not take any respect from Coach Johnson or any of his teams, as i have been a starting memeber of the last four of the five you mentioned. I was simply posting in defense of your comments about/alludes to MW- who is a my teammate, my friend, and more than anything else my family,a sister to me! She has helped to make Aiken the GREAT team it is and was by her play and her hardwork. I believe all of your comments in her direction were unwarranted!

soccerdfner16: Why do you think that your coach did not include what some perceive to be the most deserving candidate(s)? Do you believe it was for "punishment" [inappropriate or otherwise], an honest disagreement over contribution, or what?

Chico- I have my idea about my coaches reasoning and I am not going to state it right now- until I myself go and talk to Coach Johnson, i will only have what i think and not the facts of the matter! But I do believe you know Meghan and her talent and we know it is not because a lack there of as the reason she is not on the all-region team! She can truly be seen as a player every team has to look out for when they play Aiken High!!!

>> [SAHS Fan] This is a joke and has reduced being selected as an All Region recipient to nothing more than a trophy.

R1C, you know these players you play against like your own or you wouldn't (or shouldn't) be a coach. Why is it that coaches seem to know who to mark when they play each other.<<

I think this really comes down to what the job of the all-region selection meeting "group." Is the "group" a team with a unifying objective to pick the best 11-12 players in the region? Or is the "group" a committee of individuals who have no unifying objective but only an individual objective to get as many girls on the team as possible from their team? I don't know the answer -- is there a defined answer -- or do the coaches just have to make up the rules as they go along? If it's the latter, which I would assume given what I've read, then the issue here is more process than participant.

>>I would be embarrassed to have been a part of the voting members. I do not know the WN coach but I can tell you that there is no way Bridget Dutcher should not have been coach of the year.
31-6 in 2 years.<<

Statistics are the "facts" with which we all try to build the "truth." The statistic you cite _might_ absolutely argue for Coach Dutcher being the region coach of the two years of 2004-2005. Here's one in favor of Lexington's coach for coach of the one year of 2005 [note: I am not criticizing the WK coach's selection, just demonstrating how coach selection is arguable]: Lexington at the end of the 2004 season was unranked. They entered this season unranked. They currently appear as if they'll end the season ranked #9. South Aiken at the end of the 2004 season was ranked #7. They entered the season ranked #11. They currently appear as if they'll end the season ranked #7. Typically, these awards are given out for single season accomplishments and improvement of a group by a coach is the overriding factor -- which is why sometimes the most winning coach isn't selected.

>>THis is no surprise though. Columbia based teams get the nod any time there is an opportunity.<<

It might seem that way to you; over here in Lexington we feel the same way except for us "Columbia based teams" are those more near metropolitan Columbia -- and I'm sure that they have a gripe about some other set of teams as well.

>>Congratulations to the girls that were seleted to receive "a trophy"!<<

Look...do I believe South Aiken should have more players on this? Yes. Do I believe that there are players that are on this that shouldn't be? Yes. Do I believe that there are players who are not on this that should be? Yes.

Do I believe, however, that there is rampant bias? No. I believe that there are a number of factors: the probable lack of a unifying goal, coaches missing meetings, coaches disciplining players through the all-region process, old fashioned "good old boy" politics, and just good old fashioned differences of opinion. I doubt, very seriously, that any of these factors are limited to region IV. How do you make it better? Typically in this type of situation, you look to the process, not the participants.

soccerdfner16: I think you're correct to go to the coach and ask before speculating. I thought perhaps that there was a stated set of well-known guidelines for inclusion that were violated and you just disagreed with those guidelines.