Summer soccer camp

Published 2:52 am Friday, June 21, 2013

Malana Thompson, left, Drew Teeter, middle, and Jacob Ackerman, right, scrimmage Wednesday during a soccer camp at Lakeview Park organized by members of the Albert Lea boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer teams. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

A.L. soccer captains organize week-long event

Captains of the Albert Lea High School boys’ and girls’ soccer programs teamed up to organize the first-ever summer soccer boot camp, which has been taking place Monday through today for ages 6 to 12.

Blaine Bakken, left, battles Jaeda Koziolek for possession of the ball Wednesday at Lakeview Park as part of the Albert Lea summer soccer boot camp. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

“The camp has been awesome,” said Sydney Overgaard, an organizer and co-captain of the Albert Lea girls’ soccer team. “The focus was to have fun. We worked with young players to develop individual and team soccer skills.”

The duration of the camp has been two hours each day, and it has been well-received by the community.

“We never expected 25 kids to sign up,” Overgaard said. “We’ve had many positive comments from the parents, including that we should do it again next summer.”

Brooke Hanson — the Albert Lea girls’ soccer team’s other co-captain — came up with the idea for the camp after seeing the Owatonna soccer team do the same thing, Overgaard said.

Captains of the Albert Lea boys’ varsity soccer team who provided instruction this week are Tim Furland, Hunter Distad, Preston Smith and Tyler Vandenheuvel.

Captains of the Albert Lea boys’ and girls’ soccer teams organized the first-ever summer soccer boot camp. Front row from the left are Gabe DenHartog, Jacob Ackerman, Logan Strom, Hailey Strom, Malana Thompson, Jaxon Rosas, Brennan Bakken, Gavin Hanke, Jared Turrubiartes, Phoebe Holst, Ali Lopez and Philip Ackerman. Back row from the left are instructors Brooke Hanson and Tim Furland, Caleb Hanson, Logan Schumaker, Cole Indrelie, Jocelyn Strom, Alex Baerman, Jacy Rosas, Jaeda Koziolek, Michael Flaherty, Alexandra Funk, Blaine Bakken, Veronica Petersen, Drew Teeter, and instructors Hunter Tuveson and Sydney Overgaard. Not pictured are Timmy Kruen and instructors Preston Smith and Tyler Vandenheuvel. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune