September 13, 2004

ODP Looks Back On Record Year
Gail Ellison steps down as ODP Administrator

What a year this has been! Technical Director Greg Maas and ODP Administrator Gail Ellison, teamed up with a dedicated, committed group of coaches, team managers, and volunteers for a very successful 2003-2004 ODP season. Ellison reports that the ODP program has again made budget and efforts to increase funding of scholarships proved fruitful. "One of this year's goals was to lay the foundation for increased scholarship funding and we were able accomplish that. Plans for next year will continue to build on this year's effort." Ellison also thanks District 5 for their generous scholarship donation, which will be put towards next year's scholarship fund.

Technical Director Greg Maas reports ODP established an all-time record of 24 players selected to this year's Region IV Pool's. "The 22 players selected to participate in the Region IV Pool's, and the two players selected to participate in the boys '91 US National Team Pool, far surpassed last year's record of 13." Maas quickly credits the hard work and dedication of the age group coaches, players, their teammates, and importantly, the commitment to player development and support for ODP by the coaches and players around the State. "ODP is a vital program for player identification for US Soccer, and as long as our coaches and players around the State continue to support ODP, we will continue to see players identified from Utah and we will be poised for further success," Maas said.

Judy Martin will take the helm of ODP Administration as Gail Ellison steps down. While Ellison has enjoyed being involved and seeing the ODP program take off, with only one year left with her daughter at home, she wants to concentrate her energy there. Ellison states, "I have been privileged to work with a staff who really have the players' best interest at the heart of their efforts, and players who dedicate and develop themselves to play at the highest level possible. What an incredible experience!" The following players were selected to the ODP Region IV Team Pool's in their respective age groups:

1991 Camden Smith Robbie Hull

1990 Michael Knight Jacob Hustedt Gaby Okito Clay Broadbent McKinzie Olsen Niki Fernandes LaChere Anglin

1989 Marco Angelo Jesse Tyson Kupfer Megan Ohai Jesse Baddley Hailee DeYoung

1988 James Jaramillo Andrew Morris Jessica Williams

1987 Kellen Christensen David Gates Katie Larkin Katie Fellows Kellie Isleib Lynzee Lee Rebecca Riddle

Spotlight on Utah's ODP Region IV and US National Pool Players:

Name: Camden Smith
ODP Age Group: 91 Boys
Position: Forward
Current Club Team: Sparta
Club Coach: Danny Rennie
High School: N/A
Favorite Soccer Team: Manchester United
Favorite Player: Ruud Van Nistelroy
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Being invited to the '91 National Team Camp
Future Goals: To play soccer in college and maybe the Pro's

Name: Robbie Hull
ODP Age Group: 91 Boys
Position: Defender/Midfield
Current Club Team: Impact Black
Club Coach: Chris Madsen
High School: N/A
Favorite Soccer Team: Arsenal
Favorite Player: Thierry Henry
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Being invited to the '91 National Team Camp
Future Goals: To make the US National Team and to play professional soccer

Name: Michael Knight
ODP Age Group: 90 Boys
Position: Midfield
Current Club Team: UFC Club Coach: Mike Polich
High School: N/A
Favorite Soccer Team: Real Madrid
Favorite Player: Zinedine Zidane
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Being selected to the Region IV Pool
Future Goals: To play professional soccer

Name: Jacob Hustedt
ODP Age Group: 90 Boys
Position: Midfield/Forward
Current Club Team: Sparta
Club Coach: Patrick Rennie
High School: N/A
Favorite Soccer Team: Chicago Fire
Favorite Player: Landon Donovan
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Being selected to the Region IV Pool
Future Goals: To make the US National Team

Name: Gaby Okito
ODP Age Group: 90 Boys
Position: Forward
Current Club Team: Inter FC Premier
Club Coach: Dan Suarez
High School: N/A
Favorite Soccer Team: Manchester United
Favorite Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Playing at Region Camp and making the Region IV Pool
Future Goals: To play soccer in college

Name: Clay Broadbent
ODP Age Group: 90 Boys
Position: Midfield/Forward
Current Club Team: Impact Black
Club Coach: Chris Madsen
High School: N/A
Favorite Soccer Team: Juventus
Favorite Player: Roberto Carlos
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Traveling to England with Impact and watching Manchester United play, and training at their facility
Future Goals: To play soccer in college and hopefully in the Pro's

Name: McKinzie Olson
ODP Age Group: 90 Girls
Position: Goalkeeper
Current Club Team: Avalanche
Club Coach: Simon McFall
High School: Brighton
Favorite soccer Team: San Jose Earthquakes
Favorite Player: Landon Donovan
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Winning State Cup in a shootout
Future Goals: To play college soccer

Name: Niki Fernandes
ODP Age Group: 90 Girls
Position: Forward/Midfield
Current Club Team: United Front
Club Coach: Shara Fernandes and Rod Anderson
High School: N/A
Favorite soccer Team: US Women's National Team
Favorite Player: Brandy Chastain
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Watching the Final between USA and China at the Rose Bowl during the '99 FIFA Women's World Cup; and having the opportunity to go down on the field with my little sister and shoot in the same goal they used for the shootout!
Future Goals: To make it to the US Women's National Team, and to participate in the Olympics

Name: LaChere Anglin
ODP Age Group: 90 Girls
Position: Center Back
Current Club Team: U16 Avalanche Premier
Club Coach: Becky Hogan
High School: Bingham
Favorite Soccer Team: USA Women's National Team
Favorite Player: Landon Donovan
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Being chosen to the Region IV Team
Future Goals: To make it to the US Women's National Team

Name: Marco Angelo
ODP Age Group: 89 Boys
Position: Midfield
Current Club Team: Sparta
Club Coach: Paul Page
High School: Jordan
Favorite Soccer Team: Barcelona
Favorite Player: Ronaldinjo
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Opening the letter notifying him that he made the National Team
Future Goals: To make the U17 National Team Residency Program and to play professional soccer

Name: Jesse 'Tyson' Kupfer
ODP Age Group: 89 Boys
Position: Midfield
Current Club Team: USA Milan
Club Coach: Rob Karas
High School: Bonneville
Favorite Soccer Team: Arsenal
Favorite Player: Ronaldinjo
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Training with River Plate in Argentina
Future Goals: To play for the National Team and to play professionally in Europe

Name: Megan Ohai
ODP Age Group: 89 Girls
Position: Forward/ Midfield
Current Club Team: Avalanche 88
Club Coach: Joanna Barney
High School: Cottonwood
Favorite Soccer Team: USA National Women's Team
Favorite Player: Abby Wambach
Most memorable moment: Attending my first US National Camp
Future Goals: To play for the Women's National Team

Name: Jessie Baddley
ODP Age Group: 89 Girls
Position: Forward/ Midfield
Current Club Team: Avalanche 89
Club Coach: Becky Hogan
High School: Bonneville
Favorite Soccer Team: USA National Women's Team
Favorite Player: Ally Wagner
Most memorable moment: 2004 President's Day Tournament in Arizona
Future Goals: To play college soccer and for the Women's National Team

Name: Hailee DeYoung
ODP Age Group: 89 Girls
Position: Goalkeeper
Current Club Team: Avalanche 89
Club Coach: Becky Hogan
High School: Alta
Favorite Soccer Team:
Favorite Player:
Most memorable moment:
Future Goals:

Name: Andrew Morris
ODP Age Group: 88 Boys
Position: Forward
Current Club Team: Inter FC
Club Coach: Mark Graham
High School: Weber High School
Favorite Soccer Team: Arsenal
Favorite Player: Thierry Henry
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Making the Region IV Team
Future Goals: Play College Soccer

Name: James Jaramillo
ODP Age Group: 88 Boys
Position: Midfield
Current Club Team: Inter FC
Club Coach: Mark Graham
High School: Mountain View H.S.
Favorite Soccer Team: Liverpool
Favorite Player: Diego Maradona
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Traveling to Europe and playing in France and Holland
Future Goals: Play College Soccer

Name: Jessica Williams
ODP Age Group: 88 Girls
Position: Midfield
Current Club Team: Avalanche
Club Coach: Joanna Barney
High School: Box Elder
Favorite Soccer Team: Women's National Team
Favorite Player: Kristine Lilly
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Being selected to the Region IV Team
Future Goals: Play College Soccer

Name: David Gates
ODP Age Group: 87 Boys
Position: Forward
Current Club Team: Inter FC
Club Coach: Mark Graham
High School: Woods Cross
Favorite Soccer Team: AC Milan
Favorite Player: Zinadine Zidane
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Making the Region IV Team
Future Goals: To play college soccer and then professional soccer

Name: Kellan Christensen
ODP Age Group: 87 Boys
Position: Forward/Defender
Current Club Team: Inter FC
Club Coach: Mark Graham
High School: Layton
Favorite Soccer Team: Arsenal
Favorite Player: Thierry Henry
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Traveling to Germany with the Region IV Team
Future Goals: To play college soccer

Name: Katie Larkin
ODP Age Group: 87 Girls
Position: Midfield
Current Club Team: Celtic Storm
Club Coach: Robyn Bretzing
Favorite Soccer Team: Women's National Team
Favorite Player: Ally Wagner
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Winning State Cup four years in a row
Future Goals: Play college soccer and enjoy life

Name: Katie Fellows
ODP Age Group: 87 Girls
Position: Forward
Current Club Team: Celtic Storm
Club Coach: Robyn Bretzing
High School: Alta
Favorite Soccer Team: Any soccer team at the professional level, I love watching all soccer at that high level.
Favorite Player: Michelle Akers
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Far West Regionals and making the Region IV Team
Future Goals: To have a great four year's at BYU and to maybe one day play for the Women's National Team

Name: Rebecca Riddle
ODP Age Group: 87 Girls
Position: Forward
Current Club Team: Utah Avalanche
Club Coach: Joanna Barney
High School: Hillcrest
Favorite Soccer Team: Women's National Team
Favorite Player: Abby Wambach
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: 2003 and 2004 ODP Region IV Camps
Future Goals: To play college soccer.

Name: Kelly Islieb
ODP Age Group: 87 Girls
Position: Forward/Midfield
Current Club Team: Avalanche
Club Coach: Joanne Barney
High School: Park City
Favorite Soccer Team: Manchester United
Favorite Player: David Beckham
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Winning State Cup
Future Goals: To play college soccer, and always, the best that I can

Name: Lynzee Lee
ODP Age Group: 87 Girls
Position: Goalkeeper
Current Club Team: Celtic Storm
Club Coach: Robyn Bretzing
High School: Alta
Favorite Soccer Team: Women's National Team
Favorite Player: Ally Wagner
Most Memorable Soccer Experience: Going to Region Camp for the first time and realizing you're not as good as you think you are
Future Goals: To play college soccer and possibly make the National Team