Stingers Soccer Club Continues To Grow - Article By Don Shipman

Players fight for the soccer ball, laughter floats through the air, the crowd cheers for their teams, and athletes are encouraged by their coaches in a variety of languages… Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and, of course, English.  Is this happening overseas? Is this part of the World Cup qualifying rounds? No, actually, it happens on a weekly basis right here in the area. The Stingers Soccer Club has been quietly growing in the north-central West Virginia region for years.

Founded in 2002, the Stingers are a competitive soccer organization based in Bridgeport. The Stingers provide recreational and interscholastic soccer players increased opportunities for higher level competition through year-round, innovative player development. The club teaches and plays soccer from an international perspective. The players learn conditioning, drills, tactics, and strategies as they are taught in Europe, South America and other continents.

The organization works with players ages 10 to 16 and beyond while fielding teams in the Under-12, Under-14, Under-15, and Under-16 age groups. During the past three years the club has played in the USA Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota and won the 2006 tournament in the U-16 age bracket (http://usacup.org/fun-stuff/featured_team.stm). This past fall, the Stingers played numerous teams in West Virginia and participated in tournaments in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. The U-15 Girls won the coveted Old Dominion Cup at Virginia Beach in December.

            A unique aspect of the Stingers Soccer Club is the depth of its coaching staff. The Director of Coaching and Player Development, Florin Marton, played professionally and represented the Romanian National Team. Marton, who has coached in the U.S. collegiate soccer ranks for years, is currently the Head Men's and Women’s Soccer Coach at WVU Tech. Telma Oliveira, a native of Brazil, played highly competitive club soccer in her home country before coming to the United States and playing for Salem International University. Telma currently coaches the Under-12 and Under-14 teams. Don Shipman hails from Germany and has participated in and been an ambassador for soccer in 17 countries over the years. He retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces in 2006 and coaches an Under-15 team. Guillermo Tolaba is from Argentina and was the 2006 WVIAC Player of the Year, crowning a stellar college career and currently coaches the Stingers U-16 team and is the Women's Head Soccer Coach at Salem. Guest coaches from countries such as Scotland, Jamaica, England, and Italy are also a prominent feature of the Stingers. This unique merger of soccer coaching influences creates an exceptional environment for learning about international soccer as well as the customs and cultures associated with these various countries.  

The Stingers Soccer Club is continually looking for enthusiastic athletes who are passionate about the game, who are searching for a genuine soccer family, and who strive to take their soccer skills to higher levels. The organization currently has players on its rosters from many counties in West Virginia: Monongalia, Marion, Taylor, Preston, Barbour, Harrison, Upshur, Randolph, Lewis, Wood, Kanawha and even from Barnesville, OH. The club routinely explores additional indoor and outdoor practice field options. The Stingers currently practice on fields in Fairmont, Jane Lew, and Charleston. If players are looking for greater challenges and want a unique, internationally-based soccer experience, consider the Stinger Soccer Club. The club’s next soccer assessment sessions will be held at Salem International University on Sunday March 1, and Sunday March 8, 2009 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. The spring season commences on March 16^th. If you would like more information on the Stingers, please contact Florin Marton at:  â™«

florinmarton@wvstingers.com or 304-881-9581. Additional details are available on the West Virginia Stingers Soccer Club's website: http://www.wvstingers.com/