Main photo: The Huntsville Strikers U11 Boys Development Team (back from left) James Blake, Michael Dooley, John Dooley (coach), Callahan Alexander, Nolan Caswell, Ty Horvath Thompson, Noah Graham, Justin Caswell, Andrew Maduri, Simon Koop, Johnny Fiorini, Jack Sowrey, Ted Maduri (coach); and (front from left) goalies Wyatt Heffernan (being held by his teammates) and Ryan Sawyers (lying in front). Not pictured: Calum Simpson, Jen Simpson (manager) and Fraser McTurk (assistant coach). Photo: Rebecca Brown.
When Coach Ted Maduri was asked to select an athlete of the week in the sport of soccer he couldn’t choose just one so the entire U11 Boys Huntsville Strikers team have been recognized as exceptional athletes this week.
The players on the Huntsville Strikers U11 Boys Development Team are talented, dedicated, and hard working. Coach Maduri said, “The fact that our most talented players are also our hardest working players, they set the tone, which makes my job easier.”
The players and their families are committed to the sport: attendance was amazing for the team’s two weekly practices and games throughout the summer. Every team member worked to try and improve a personal skill while having fun on the field. “The boys have fun together. They have truly become a team and have made friendships that I really believe will carry them through some pretty important/formative years,” added Maduri.
The Strikers U11 team had a successful season with only one game loss in their league games. They topped the season off with a big win on August 30, when Huntsville won their Cup Final game and beat one of their strongest competitors from Collingwood with a close score of 4-3 in a hard-fought game.
Highlights from their season include competing in their home Muskoka Cottage Classic Festival on August 18 in the U12 division. “We very much held our own against the older boys,” said Maduri. The U11 Strikers also headed to Toronto on June 23 for the King City Festival which allowed the players to experience playing against one of the Academy teams from the larger South area. They also played closer to home in the Bracebridge Festival on July 21.
The U11 Boys Strikers have plenty of reasons to celebrate this season (Photo: Rebecca Brown)
Andrew Maduri (left) exemplifies his team’s spirit and determination (Photo: Rebecca Brown)
The season didn’t consist of just soccer. The team made it fun by having a couple of team parties, too—a World Cup Final party and a Champions League Final party! In between the hard work, games and parties, the Strikers were able to run a successful fundraiser and have used the proceeds to order fancy new warm-up jackets.
“While I appreciate all of my players, as we really do have a special group of boys, special shout-outs to Ryan Sawyers and Nolan Caswell for joining the HSC (Huntsville Soccer Club) development program for the first time, after only playing Huntsville house league earlier in their careers,” said Maduri. “We also had a newcomer, Callahan Alexander, who has moved to Huntsville from Qatar. All three of these newcomers have become contributing members of the team both on and off the pitch. Kudos to them! And kudos to the rest of the boys for welcoming them aboard.”
Maduri added special thanks to all the parents who supported the team this season, as well as to their amazing Team Manager, Jen Simpson, to the team’s assistant coaches, John Dooley and Fraser McTurk, and to the team sponsor Hutcheson, Caswell & Reynolds.
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