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2006 Floyd Central Regional Champions

Providence Pioneers

14-3-5

Regional Champions 2006 – That has a nice ring to it.  After five long years, you guys brought the hardware back home.  Your mugs with your smiling grills will line the Halls of Blue for eternity.  You left your mark.  Many have tried.  But you succeeded.  The team concept resonated with you, and therefore, you are celebrated and saluted for your accomplishments which are many. 

Let’s start at 14-3-5…pretty darn good.  When you play 22 games and only lose three against top shelf competition, that speaks volumes about your team composition.  Your three losses were by a combined margin of 8 goals, all shutouts, but in none of the three were you ever dominated, except by Memorial.  And the three teams that you did lose to were not scrubs.  Memorial played in the final four of the state tournament and was ranked as high as #3 in Indiana and # 28 nationally according to the October 24^th  NSCAA/adidas high school fall rankings.  East Central played in this year’s elite 8 and was only two years removed from their 2004 state championship match. We believed in you so much that we purchased tickets for both matches of the Evansville semi-state - not because the second match was discounted.  And Avon played in the sweet 16 and was ranked #11 when we battled them.  Not bad. 

How about those 14 wins?  The biggest win was the regional championship match against Seymour.  We knew they would be tough, especially after a tie eight weeks earlier.  That no doubt was the most enjoyable match for the fans, and it appeared as though you also thoroughly enjoyed it as evidenced by your monster play.  And it meant a lot because it was against a very strong opponent.  Your next best win was against Jeffersonville for the sectional title.  To win a title against a rival in overtime was not a game for those on heart medication.  Can we ever forget the Oldham County match?  They’re a talented bunch, but they had a day against you like you had against Memorial.  How about the we-will-score-you-will-score-we-will-score match against DeSales.  Just when we thought DeSales had the upper hand, you pulled out the rabbit.  

Five draws.  Yuk.  But if you have to have them, the St. X fight demonstrated your ability to come from two goals down at the half and knot up the #1 ranked team in hillbilly land.  This game was another one I lost my voice on.  With 24 ticks left on the clock, you stunned the Tigers and shocked the world, snatching a victory out of their claws.  The Seymour  match was your second best draw, again showing your resiliency to climb out of a hole and steal a V from the Owls’ record books.  

What’s it take for 17 boys to play as a well oiled unit?  Selflessness – that innate ability to set your ego aside for the betterment of the team, knowing that Our Lady and everything she represents is who you’re playing for, not the name on the back of your jerseys – if you had them.  I have seen individuals showcase their talents at the expense of their teams at all levels and in previous years at Providence.  Not this year.  When I asked for interviews, the responses always centered on leadership and playing together.  Maybe that’s what Gio told you to tell me.  It sounded good, but I doubt it.  I know in my heart that you spoke through your heart.  Your selflessness was evident in the goals scored.  We did not have one striker score 35 goals, but one team score with 15 goal scorers.  We did not have one keeper with a sub-one goals against average, but a defensive unit that made our goals stand up as winners.  We did not have one distributor, but a slew of midfielders who could string together passes.  We had a team.

Those special team members left the following impressions on me:

Kelyn – Two years ago I knew you were a special keeper.  I saw it in you.  Your interview after the first Seymour game showed your leadership, when you took responsibility for a play that you thought was a blunder.  I knew your strength in goal would carry us far.

Hunter – You earned first team all-district honors, not for your goal scoring prowess, but for just the opposite.  You played balls to Kelyn that most sweepers would have given up to their opponents.  Your confidence was always evident.  You are not only all district, but I consider you one of the better backs to play at Our Lady.  An all-state designation would not be out of order.

Nick -  You were another anchor in our defense.  Your versatility to crash the box on corners or crash an opposing striker in your house was evident by the way you brought it every game.  Little Jon has a great role model to look to…and he already has dibs on your spot.

Nathan -  You matured in front of us.  You played like a senior.  I am happy you’re just a sophomore.  You ooze mental toughness.  When your package got cracked, I knew you would bounce right back.  Under that jersey is a large “S” encased in a diamond.

Brad Starck – You played controlled ball and were a strong presence in the central defense.  Knowing how to use your size to your advantage was key to your game.  You were a settling force in the central defense. 

Ben Koetter – I was never so happy to see you get a yellow card in the regional final.  That grit and determination was welcomed and will be needed when you take to the pitch as a senior.

Brendan – You’re a beast.  I loved watching your game.  It was as close to football as we could have in soccer.  And your animations on the pitch, well, you have a real talent there.  I see a career for you as a hostage negotiator.

Eric – You always looked as though you would be just as comfortable on a surf board as the pitch.  But I’m glad you were the lad to take the corners.  Mr. Corner, always serving up a perfect ball.  And who will ever forget your header against Jeff.

Ben Hughes – St. X has your number.  You had nasty, nasty stuff around the goal.  You’re a force in traffic.  Your mates claim you have the speed of Thierry Henry.  What say you?

Brad Coombs – Did I ever say thank you for playing soccer this year?  Your headers in the early games were spectacular.  And if there is a stat for assists on throw-ins, you would be at the top. 

Robbie – You were a feisty player.  My best memory of you is listening to you tell me how cool it was for your teammates to congratulate you after scoring, with your eyes twinkling, and your smile from ear to ear.

Steven – You may have remembered me telling you in the parking lot that your gutsy play stood out.  You hustled when you were on the pitch and definitely brought a spark to the field.  Keep rockin’.

Brad Orem -  You earned first team all-district honors and had a knack for putting the ball in the net.  Your ability to score on some of the most improbable free kicks was amazing.  Your humbleness after scoring your hat trick in Bloomington is what I will always remember. 

Jared -  What were you thinking as a freshman?  St. X…come on.  I knew you would be back.  And what an impact you made during your three years.  I had heard you were a strong field player, but I didn’t know how strong until I saw what you did against DeSales, and then the rest of the season.  And thanks for taking Keenan to school.  Class starts at 0800, not 0815.

 Zev -  I was so happy to hear your Mom and Dad talk about sending you to Providence two years ago and even happier that you’re here.  But I was thrilled to see you put just the right touch on the ball in the Restoration game to score your first varsity goal.  There aren’t too many freshmen who score, let alone in a state tournament match.  You set the bar high for Pierce.

Omar -  When I saw you take the pitch against Oldham County, I was pleasantly surprised.  Well, ecstatic would be a better word.  You play like some of those dudes I see on Xbox…sick dude, you’re sick.

Keenan – Seeing you mature over the season and seeing the tears after the East Central game showed me how much the game means to you.  Only with that heart can you be a champion.  Owl Killer is easier said than, “Keenan ‘I own Seymour’ Sparks”.

Megan and Carly – “Dad, I don’t mind when Gio takes me out of the game.  I just go over and sit next to Megan and Carly.  They’re hot.”  Girls, watch out for guys faking muscle cramps.

Gio and Brandon – You guys just keep building your résumés , and we’ll tag along for the fun.  You molded our lads into a team and must have given some Lombardy-esque speeches at halftime.  Next season, we’re going live in the huddles.  You guys rocked.

Lads, you just don’t know how many tears were shed over you this season.  Tears of joy. Tear of sadness as I write this final goodbye to my seniors.  I love you all.  You brought immense joy in my life, and gave new meaning to my life as I was able to do something that I could only dream of doing for years, sports writing.  You gave me a forum to call the games to my imaginary audience as I broadcast your games over my cyber wireless remote to the four corners of the globe - and Kentucky.  You gave us all hope during a very sad time in Our Lady’s history.  I am honored to have written for my seniors.  For my juniors, I hope I can wear out my vocal chords again with you next season.  To my sophomores, the tears you shed were not in vain.  The loss at Evansville will reside in your inner sanctum and be a force as you battle over the next two years.  And to my freshmen, you made more of an impact than your young minds can possibly grasp. 

Take your stage lads.  You have your earned your props amongst our finest.   You have pulled our heart strings one too many times, and we can bear no more.  So until August 2007, enjoy your accomplishments and remember - it was a special duo called Gio and Rogers, your parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, Providence community and most of all your faith that brought you to this wonderful stage.  And always remember, Our Lady Queen of Victory…

Submitted by Mike Sparks  PHS '83

Pictures by Barbara Stackhouse

This page last modified on 10/05/2011 07:27 PM