Titan girls look to continue last year’s success

Last season the Tea Area High School girls’ soccer team finished with an 8-4 record and second place honors at the State A Tournament. The team is looking to build on that success with the core of last year’s team returning.

“We are deeper at most positions,” said Titan head coach Mark Anderson, “And our offense is strong.”

Anderson, who has been coaching for 20 plus years, is excited to see a roster that boasts ten seniors.

Seniors on this year’s team include starters Ally Kacmarynski, Karlee McKinney, Courtney Kiefer, Brooke Piper, Joni Hofer, and Aubrey Schwebach and Rachel Kiefer, Katy Garry, Ashley Tate, and Erika Piper. Other starters on this year’s team include: Cari Hansen, Jozy Bardsley, Brittley Minnaert, Mikayla Wevik, and Cierra Stueven. Complete roster includes: Desirae Patzwald, Olivia Bouhamadi, Somer Anderson, Kayla Aymar, Kristyn Garry, Karly Garry, Alyssa VenHuizen, Ellie Cordie, Aspyn Thomassen, Chloe Stafford, Josie Ketelhut, Norah Graff, Regan Lardy, Bailey Jongeljeugd, Kaitlin Kuhnery, Hailee Christenson, Brooke Deckert, Brianna Pfeifer, and Isa Tapia.

Anderson feels this team has a strong chance to continue last year’s success.

“If we continue to work hard and take care of the little things we could have a very successful season,” Anderson said. “If we stay focused we will do well.”

The team will have their first test of the season this Saturday as they host Sioux Falls Roosevelt in the season opener. The Junior Varsity girls will start at 4 p.m. followed by the Varsity girls at 6 p.m. The Varsity boys play at 8 p.m. that evening.

New this year will be the creation of Little Lady Titans. This program came about with inspiration from Mark’s wife, Cheri Anderson, who helps with the fund-raising/organizing part of the team. This season each of the JV and Varsity players will have a Little Lady Titan walking them out at the beginning of the game. They are younger girls and each one will have a picture/fathead of a player when they walk out. Each participating Little Lady Titan will receive a t-shirt.

“We think it is a great way to get them interested in the game and get attendance up,” said M. Anderson. “It is about building the program and staying involved in the kids’ lives.”

This program will be in effect at all the varsity home games.