Filed by Kent Magee
The 92 boys of the East Ridge Express soccer team arrived in Little Rock late Wednesday so they could be here Thursday for the opening ceremonies of the southern regional championship.
Most of them came together in one large van obtained by one of the parents and I think they were happy to arrive after more than eight hours of traveling together.
The team had gone to Disney for a major tournament just after Christmas earlier this season and is used to long trips, but this one is different because many of the parents were unable to make it.
Because we won the state tournament to qualify for the regional championships just two weeks ago, many of the parents had not asked to be off work or had not made plans to be out of town so they could not come.
When I first saw them team together at Little Rock’s Alltel Arena is was obvious how excited they were to be here. They are a very good soccer team and are used to winning, but they also appreciate getting to travel and being a part of a big tournament.
The opening ceremonies were fun because all of the teams participating traded gifts with the others. My son exchanged gifts with a girl from Texas and she gave him a T-shirt that read, “South Texas Girls Do it Best.” I was surprised her mother let her bring that as a gift but my son thought it was fun!
The surprise of the trip came when the boys walked out of Alltel Arena and saw the temperature on the bank sign which read “100.” It was much hotter than at home and Chattanooga and their game Friday is at 2 p.m.
They have been practicing together since last July however so we are hopeful the heat will not be a negative factor for us.
E-mail Kent Magee at krm927@hotmail.com
Contributed Photo by Kent Magee
The East Ridge Express 92 boys soccer team participated in opening ceremonies Thursday at Alltel Arena in Little Rock. From left in first row are Elver Uriostegui, Marc Tackling, Ricky Rodriguez, Jesus Perez, Israel Mata and Anthony Pagnini. Second row from left are Javier Hurtado, Angel Arellano, Grant Carpenter, Francisco Solar, Jose Rodriguez, Andy Helms, Josh Veal, Nathan Courtney, Hudson Magee and coach Gary Tackling.
The 92 boys of the East Ridge Express soccer team arrived in Little Rock late Wednesday so they could be here Thursday for the opening ceremonies of the southern regional championship.
Most of them came together in one large van obtained by one of the parents and I think they were happy to arrive after more than eight hours of traveling together.
The team had gone to Disney for a major tournament just after Christmas earlier this season and is used to long trips, but this one is different because many of the parents were unable to make it.
Because we won the state tournament to qualify for the regional championships just two weeks ago, many of the parents had not asked to be off work or had not made plans to be out of town so they could not come.
When I first saw them team together at Little Rock’s Alltel Arena is was obvious how excited they were to be here. They are a very good soccer team and are used to winning, but they also appreciate getting to travel and being a part of a big tournament.
The opening ceremonies were fun because all of the teams participating traded gifts with the others. My son exchanged gifts with a girl from Texas and she gave him a T-shirt that read, “South Texas Girls Do it Best.” I was surprised her mother let her bring that as a gift but my son thought it was fun!
The surprise of the trip came when the boys walked out of Alltel Arena and saw the temperature on the bank sign which read “100.” It was much hotter than at home and Chattanooga and their game Friday is at 2 p.m.
They have been practicing together since last July however so we are hopeful the heat will not be a negative factor for us.
E-mail Kent Magee at krm927@hotmail.com
Contributed Photo by Kent Magee
The East Ridge Express 92 boys soccer team participated in opening ceremonies Thursday at Alltel Arena in Little Rock. From left in first row are Elver Uriostegui, Marc Tackling, Ricky Rodriguez, Jesus Perez, Israel Mata and Anthony Pagnini. Second row from left are Javier Hurtado, Angel Arellano, Grant Carpenter, Francisco Solar, Jose Rodriguez, Andy Helms, Josh Veal, Nathan Courtney, Hudson Magee and coach Gary Tackling.
