Wenatchee FC grows as youth club aligns under their banner

WENATCHEE, WA — Wenatchee Fire FC youth soccer recently announced a merger with Cashmere Youth Soccer. Now the new entity is further organizing local soccer by aligning with Wenatchee FC adult club of the Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA.) The Fire youth will adopt the name and crest of Wenatchee FC.

wfc_2015“The merger is happening with the desire to create an alignment with our community youth soccer all the way up to our semi-professional organization,” says Javier Reyna, one of Wenatchee FC’s founding owners. “Our mission is to provide opportunities for our youth to aspire to join an organized club from an early age and have the opportunity to play soccer at a semi-professional level or higher.”

Wenatchee Fire FC President-elect Janine Bakken describes the larger vision. “One of the major initiatives we’ve been working on for the last several years is to vertically align and bring together the various soccer entities in the Wenatchee Valley. The goal being to implement the model identified as the most effective for youth development by our country’s governing bodies for the sport; USSF, USYS and US Club Soccer. The model is a template for organizing and assuring that every player, youth and adult, has the ability to play at whatever level they are capable for as long as they are capable and have the desire to play. The alignment with WFC is another step in the process of our Club’s intent to comply with national standards for organization and creating a clear long term development path for the players we serve.”

“This will help both our clubs in that we can work together and use each others resources to provide a better experience to our communities,” says Reyna. “With our merger, we hope to continue to support the growth of soccer within North Central Washington as well as creating stability and balance to both of our organizations.”

EPLWA Logo-06-500Reyna says that Wenatchee Fire youth clubs will become “Wenatchee FC Youth.” They will continue to provide high level service and professionalism with their current management and board members under the new name and crest.

Wenatchee FC was founded in 2013 and joined the Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA) as an adult men’s team for the debut season in 2014. The EPLWA is an elite amateur men’s competition that has teams in Bellingham, Bremerton, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Yakima. The league is recognized as being part of the fourth division in American soccer, behind MLS, NASL and USL Pro. The term “semi-pro” is used to describe the professional manner in which EPLWA clubs seek to operate. Wenatchee FC will join the Spokane Shadow as the other Evergreen Premier League club with an aligned youth system. The Shadow not only won the first league title last season, but thanks to their youth club support they also lead the EPLWA in attendance at first team matches.

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Mike Osborn, Director of Coaching for Wenatchee Fire FC, is excited about the new opportunities for youth and adults. “The benefits of our alignment with WFC are numerous,” he says. “Here are a just a few: It gives our youth players a flagship team to identify with and rally behind; It gives us a platform to link all levels in the Valley from recreational to college under one banner; it increases awareness and visibility of our players around the state and serves as a model for others across the nation; it integrates our leadership structure, strengthening our ability to overcome common misconceptions and create more opportunities for all players of all abilities; allows for the leveraging of resources with regard to equipment, scheduling, coaching and administration; provides increased visibility of the sport in the Valley and need for community partnerships to help resource the vast majority of participants that are severely under-served.”

Ultimately, the goal is to create a soccer pathway where good players become great and good people become great citizens. “Our commitment is to use soccer as a platform for promoting the pursuit of excellence in the educational, character, physical and psychological development of today’s player,” Osborn says. “By creating a healthy competitive environment for all players we strive to teach all who participate how to set and work toward goals individually and collectively, modeling and instilling the qualities of leadership, teamwork, commitment, perseverance, loyalty and sportsmanship. Players will learn how to overcome adversity, exercise self-discipline, practice humility, gratitude and service to others. The end result being that every player is equipped to make significant contributions as a part of a team, both on the field and where they happen to live their lives. In short, our goal is to play a significant role in developing today’s player into tomorrow’s game changer.”

Wenatchee FC will announce open tryout dates and the 2015 Evergreen Premier League schedule in the coming months. The Wenatchee FC First Team Men will kick off their EPLWA season in early May. Watch www.WenatcheeFC.com for updates. Like Wenatchee FC at their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/WenatcheeFC and follow WFC on Twitter at @WenatcheeFC.

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WFC teams up with Wenatchee Valley Soccer Referee Association

wvsraWENATCHEE, WA— Wenatchee Football Club is providing opportunities for local players to take their game to the next level. Now the club is helping do the same thing for soccer referees in the Wenatchee Valley.

WFC will field a reserves squad for their Evergreen Premier League side. The Reserves will play matches that will give local referees experience in calling matches. EPLWA matches and Reserves matches will all be played at the Apple Bowl.

“Our Reserves will play friendlies at every EPLWA home game before our first team,” says WFC General Manager Javier Reyna. “We plan for local referees to officiate those games. Then have them stay and watch the first team match referees (who come from around the state) to learn from them.”

Ed Navarro of the Wenatchee Valley Soccer Referee Association is excited about the opportunity.

“Our main goal is to expose our local referee members to a more competitive soccer. Working with Wenatchee FC gives us that opportunity,” says Navarro, who is the Director of Instruction and Assignor for the WVSRA.

“What we hope to accomplish is have more referees upgrade so they can do semi-pro games locally, or wherever they need good referees.”

Spring Break Camp


Wenatchee FC in partnership with the WVC Men’s Soccer present to you the 2016 Spring Break Soccer & GK Camp.

Clinic Date: April 4- April 7 Boys and Girls Price: $75.00

Times & Location: Monday thru Thursday
Wenatchee Valley College Soccer Field
1300 5th Street | Wenatchee, WA 98801

5-7 yrs 10:00am -12:00pm
8-10 yrs 12:30pm – 2:30pm
11-14 yrs 3:00pm-5:00pm

Instructors:
Jamie Richards Head Coach Wenatchee FC Semipro
Peter Osborn Head Coach WVC Men’s Soccer

Register Online HERE

2016 Open Tryouts March 12-13

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Tryouts are open to players 16 years of age and older regardless of youth club affiliation. Participants under 18 must have a parent or guardian present at the event. There is a $20 registration fee for the Open Tryout. The Wenatchee FC coaching staff will be on hand to oversee tryouts and evaluate trialists. For any additional information regarding the tryout, please contact head coach Jamie Richards at [email protected] (509) 668-1768 Register Here

WFC names Jamie Richards new Head Coach; Luke Astell returns as Director of Fitness

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Jamie Richards.

WENATCHEE, WA—Wenatchee FC of the Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA) is excited to announce that Jamie Richards has been secured as the new head coach of the club for the 2016 season. Further, the Capitals have tabbed Dr. Luke Astell as an assistant coach and Director of Fitness.

“Jamie’s overall soccer experience, passion and previous knowledge about Wenatchee FC made him the best choice for our new head coach,” says WFC General Manager Javier Reyna. “Since he was an assistant with us last year he will be able to continue the program built by Cesar Ceppi.” Ceppi, a native of Brazil, coached the Capitals in 2015.

Richards coached Chelan High School to the 2013 boys soccer state title. He’s also been an assistant in the Wenatchee Valley CC soccer program. “It is an honor to be a part of this program and I am looking forward to an exciting season!” Richards says of his new post.

He also believes being on the WFC sidelines last year is a big advantage for the season to come. “Many things were observed being the assistant coach for Wenatchee FC last year. I know the players very well, as I have been a part of coaching some of them as youth and in high school, even playing with them as young adults. Putting  them in appropriate rolls will be key.”

Wenatchee FC, 2015.
Wenatchee FC, 2015. Richards is back row, far left. Astell is back row, third from right.

Capitals supporters are likely curious about the look and style of this year’s team. “That will depend on the players we are given,” says Richards. “I like diversity and being able to adjust by the seat of your pants. Defensive structure is key to a great foundation. Midfield and forward is where the individual creativity will decipher the attack we will use.” Richards does express an overall mantra about how he leads a soccer club.  “Passion, persistence, discipline, work ethic, and perfecting the simplest!  We all, meaning the coaching staff, administration, and players need to expect the most out of each other!”

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Luke Astell.

Wenatchee FC is also happy to announce Luke Astell will be on the sidelines again this year as an assistant to Coach Richards and as Director of Fitness. Astell is co-owner of Mount Stuart Physical Therapy and Balance Point Health Fitness in Leavenworth, Washington. “I was introduced to soccer as a PT with an interest in sports performance. I was asked to look at  movement and address injuries for the local high school team and for my daughter’s team,” says Astell. “Last year was my first year with Wenatchee FC and I look forward to returning this year and working with the team and coach Jamie Richards.”