It’s been quite the summer for a handful of Ellsworth High School boys and girls soccer players!
Weeks before they took the pitch for the first time on August 18th for the official start of fall practices, the Eagles have been training and bonding for the upcoming season- both here and overseas!
In early July, the Ellsworth Soccer Club- made up mostly of current and former members of the Ellsworth High School teams- flew across the Atlantic, landing in San Sebastian, Spain for a full week of competition with teams from around the globe in the Donosti Cup Soccer Tournament. The Donosti Cup is one of the biggest international tournaments in the world- featuring over 1,000 teams, and Ellsworth sent a U16 boys team, a U19 boys team, and for the first time a U19 girls team traveled and competed, as well.
“It was a way different experience than we’re used to, but it was super fun,” says girls senior Whitney Jordan. “We got to experience a lot of different cultural things- and everybody we played is not what we’re used to, so we got a lot of experience with some tougher competition- but it was overall a really good experience.”
“We played a team from Argentina and two from Spain- they’re a lot more conditioned and strong and more creative when it comes to soccer,” says senior Elizabeth Boles.
For the boys, it’s their second year in a row heading to Spain- bringing a tradition back that was almost an annual custom back in the early 2000’s.
“The first year it was something new, a tradition that we brought back, and it was great. Going down there the second time was even better,” says senior goalie Cooper Mitchell. “Even if we weren’t winning games, it was good to be there and get the experience. It helps us a lot because we’re there together, and we’re all working together as a team.”
The teams were very competitive, in a very good field of teams, and took some valuable lessons back to Maine that they’ll bring to the soccer field this fall!
“Those guys- that's all they do. That's all they do, and they know how to play,” Mitchell says. “They're very technical. So we don't just play the game, we watch them too. We watch and learn, and we've taken stuff from over there and brought it back here.”
Off the pitch, the soccer club got the full Spain experience- getting to see the coast, the beaches, and enjoy a week overseas together!
“We went to the beach a lot, and we all went out to dinner together, had a lot of team bonding. It was a really good experience being away with all of your friends,” Jordan says.
“A lot of my friends and I went surfing, that was pretty sweet. Our hotel was maybe a five minute walk to the water, so it was awesome,” Mitchell says.
The soccer club was back in Maine after the week overseas, but their busy summer wasn’t over just yet! Several members of the ESC squads were back on the pitch just weeks later, but this time there was no competition- at least for them. For yet another summer, the soccer club hosted youth players ages 8-13 at the Ellsworth High School football field for their annual Eagles Soccer Camp. The ‘Five Great Days of Summer’ ran from July 21 through July 25th, and dozens of campers were in attendance learning directly from the Ellsworth team members!
Campers developed skills, small sided tactics, and a love for the game through drills, mini-competitions, and fun games run by the Eagles’ players.
“When I was young, I knew I always wanted to be a counselor helping kids come up and stuff,” Mitchell says. “It’s great to be there and help these kids because one day they’re going to be me- they’re going to be up here ‘in the big leagues’ and they’re going to be helping kids, too.”
The Eagles high school squads have been officially back at it since mid-August getting ready for another successful fall season! Game one is Sept. 4 for the girls and Sept. 5 for the boys- both at Hermon High School!