Savvy Shimizu Featured in Soccer America

Utah's Bret Shimizu is mentioned in the March 24, 2003 edition of Soccer America for his performance with the U-18 Region IV ODP team during its recent trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Shimizu, a member of Coach Sterling Wescott's State Cup Champion U-18 Sparta Premier team, was noted for his contribution to the Americans' victory over Brazilian club team Guarani.

"The decisive game in terms of bragging rights," Soccer America reports, "was Region IV's victory over Guarani on the final day. As his team carried a lead into the second half, [Coach Gerry] Gray ratcheted up the gamesmanship, urging his team to use ever time-wasting tactic possible. Midfielder Bret Shimizu even received two yellow cards for stalling....but the strategy rattled Guarani." The Region IV ODP team won, 3-1.

Shimizu, who is bound for Stanford University next fall, is another product of Utah's ODP program. He was identified by former UYSA State Head Coach Gordon Miller when he was barely ten years old, and he has progressed through the program now under the direction of Technical Director Greg Maas. Shimizu will also represent Utah at the Far West Regionals with Sparta's U-18 team. In his younger years, he performed for a club team coached by Scott Snelson.

President Paul C. Burke, who used to coach a club team that competed for several years against Shimizu's teams, offered his congratulations to Shimizu and his soccer mentors. "Bret is certainly deserving of this recognition. He is extremely dedicated to soccer and, besides being a promising player, Bret is an excellent student and first-rate individual. He has represented Utah and himself with distinction."