West Branch Soccer camp sees record turnout
WOODWARD TOWNSHIP, PA – This spring saw the merger of several different youth soccer set-ups in the area and this week the soccer community is seeing the fruits of that merger: 158 young people between the ages of 5 and 13 gathering each morning at the West Branch Soccer Club fields across the Susquehanna River from Lock Haven.
The turnout at the weeklong camp is the most ever in the camp’s 40-year history, although club co-founder Abe Stauffer notes last year’s camp had to be scratched due to COVID. Participants are spending each morning learning the fundamentals of soccer; at the same time, especially for the younger participants, having a good time and improving their socialization skills.
There are 13 different groups spread across the vast WBSC acreage: 20 5-year olds divided into two groups; 31 6-year olds divided into three groups; 21 7-year olds divided into two groups; 23 8-year olds divided into two groups;16 9-year olds; 14 10-year olds, 14 11-year olds; and19 12-13-year olds.
Why the record turn-out, The Record asked club veteran Stauffer: “Several things. 1).We didn’t have the camp last summer due to COVID, 2). Parents want to get their kids out and doing something physical and positive, 3). I believe families have extra money on hand due to the several stimuli payments we’ve had and/or the extra money given to folks that were unemployed.”
And participants are getting some expert coaching. In addition to Stauffer, a retired Lock Haven High School/Central Mountain head coach, there are 31 staff members. Among them are Central Mountain varsity and JV and Junior High boys’ coaches, a former Jersey Shore High School girls’ coach, Lock Haven University men’s and women’s players, multiple former Central Mountain standouts, and three high school all-state players.
Stauffer said the large camp turnout also stems from the new youth soccer consolidated set-up. “With the friendly merger or absorption of AYSO with the West Branch Soccer Club and all soccer in Clinton County under one club, I believe this led to many families seeing our philosophy and sending their little soccer players to our camp.”
Stauffer offered some history on the camp. He said it was started by the late Karl Herrmann in 1981 as a pre-preseason camp for the new Lock Haven High School soccer team and a way to make money to support that team since the Keystone Central School District provided no funding for the first two years of the LHHS program. Stauffer arrived on the scene in 1982 and helped Herrmann run that camp. Over the next few years, the two turned it into a youth soccer club to help raise funds for the WBSC which was founded in February 1984. The two were co-directors for many years, then others got involved and eventually former LHU coach Herrmann stepped aside and Stauffer ran it himself.
As for this week’s 158 attendees, Stauffer said it is the largest WBSC camp ever. The previous high number was 100, 20 years ago. He said the camp is the longest running sports camp in the county and currently the largest. There were no Lock Haven University sports camps this summer. Proceeds from the camp go to the WBSC to support youth soccer in Clinton County. Stauffer noted the operation has many expenses as WBSC is the only youth sports club in the county that owns its own facility.
Stauffer thanked the community members providing support: The ball sponsors are: Miller Brothers Auto; Rosamilia, Brungard and Rosamilia; and Rey Azteca Mexican Restaurant. The T-shirt sponsors are: Killinger’s Custom Sheet Metal, Subway, Central Contracting, The Express, Powers Health Center, Kliney’s Home Furnishings, BreyerTech Construction Services, That’s the Scoop, Beth Riccardo Real Estate, Nationwide Insurance, DAECO Excavating and Dutch Haven Restaurant,
Camp staff members, in addition to Stauffer, include:
Becca Leuthold: All-star player at CMHS, played at LHU
Kathryn Myers: All-star player at CMHS , played at LHU
Alec Leuthold: speedy hardworking player at CMHS
Bill Hook: All Star player at CMHS, played 4 years at E-town
Chase Tackett: Bethlehem, All-State at Liberty HS, 3 yr starter for LHU
Alex Terry: CMHS: 2 time All- State player, Regional All American, Duquense
Brooke Muthler: Starter at CMHS, 3 year varsity player at Penn College
Courtney Yourchak: All-star at CMHS, Coached several years at CMHS
Chase Young: recent grad from CMHS, 3 year varsity player
Josie Swartz: Sr, 3 yr Varsity at LHU, 2 time HS all state player
Beckam Sabiski:3x All-County in Berks League, All PSAC Conference and All Region
Braydon Brungard: 3 yr starter at CMHS, Jr HI coach
Dalton Bechdel: 3 yr starter at CMHS, Jr HI coach
Maddie Foster: LHU Jr.
Janessa Swartz: soph at LHU, 3rd of 3 LHU soccer sisters!
Jason Keller: started at GK fresh, State College standout
Rita Alton: 4 yr starter at CM, 4 yr starter at WCU, 3 x PSAC Champs, 3rd US, JS coach
Steph Pardoe: PE W-port, All Conference at LHU, WBSC Coach
Chad Feerrar: PE at KCSD, 4 yr starter at CM, PSAC All league, All region
Gabe Coakley: Sr at CMHS, camp alum, 4th year coaching here
Alyssa VanGorder: sr at CMHS
Halle Lodek: soph at CMHS Started as fresh
Julia Smith soph at CMHS Started as fresh
Lily Hendricks: soph at CMHS Started as fresh
Taylor Campbell: soph at CMHS Started as fresh
Morgan Temple: soph at CMHS, varsity minutes
Samiah Anderson: soph at CMHS Started as fresh
Jazzy Anderson: Fresh at CMHS
AL- Cooper Confer: Sr, 2 yr varsity player at CMHS
AM- Peyton Jones: soph at CMHS Started as fresh
