TUKWILA, WA—Sounders FC Academy returned to USSDA league play this weekend with a strong showing against the Vancouver Whitecaps and California Development Academy (CDA) at Starfire Sports Complex. The teams flooded the net, outscoring their opponents 13-4 over four games, picking up three wins, according to an article on SoundersFC.com.

The U16 Sounders came out and continued their dominant run in league play. On Saturday, they dominated their Vancouver counterparts 4-0 behind goals from Thomas Jefferson’s Isidro Prado-Huerta , James Nosack, and two goals from Denis Kalamar—giving him three goals in his last two games. Prado-Huerta got them on the board in the 31st minute on an assist from Michael Steele, and the second half was all Sounders. Nosack’s second goal of the season came on an unassisted strike in the 50th minute just minutes before Steele fed Kalamar in the 55th. Kalamar’s second goal made it 4-0 in the 69th after a crafty run by James Molyneaux-Elliot.

The U16’s didn’t miss a step Sunday, dismantling CDA 5-1 to give them five USSDA NW Division wins. Prado-Huerta scored first again in the 33rd minute on a Duncan McCormick assist, giving him a team-high five goals on the season, including four during the five-game win streak. Molyneaux-Elliot scored two goals—a PK in the 40th after Kalamar was fouled in the box, then a 47th minute goal on Steele’s third assist of the weekend. In the 62nd minute, Beamer’s Cody Crook bombed a deep free-kick into the side-netting for his first goal of the season. Ryan Harbor joined the party with his first goal of the season in the 75th minute on a feed from Miguel Medina, making it 5-0 before CDA scored a consolation goal late. The Rave Green U16’s have outscored opponents 20-5 during their five-game streak.

The U18 Academy squad got the lone Sounders loss of the weekend on Saturday against the Whitecaps. After Vancouver went up 1-0 early, Ian Lange equalized in the 55th when he headed in his seventh goal of the season on an assist from Beamer’s Austin Sweeney. The score remained 1-1 until the visitors scored goals in the 80th and 86th minutes to win 3-1.

Sunday was a different story as the U18’s dropped CDA 3-0 behind a goal and two assists from Decatur High School senior Dom Dismuke. The 5’11” forward scored in the 25th minute on an assist from Jeffrey Collings, giving him a team-high nine goals in 11 games this season. Dismuke fed Jordan Schweitzer in the 45th and Jesse Klug in the second half to account for the other two goals.

Both Academy teams sit at 5-1-1 in NW Division play this season. Their next league test will be after the New Year on Jan 21st at Real Salt Lake Arizona.

Pre-Academy Update:

On Saturday, in addition to the Academy matchups, the Sounders FC Pre-Academy and 98/99 squads also had games against their Canadian rivals to the north. After the 98/99’s came away with a draw, the Pre-Academy blasted the Whitecaps 5-0. The Sounders saw goals from five different players—Ryan Schaefer (20th), Matt Reinikka (35th), Jaeger Skifstad (40th), Sean Bowman (41st), and Sergey Ptachik. Kalab Karlek assisted on Reinikka’s goal.

On December 7th, the Pre-Academy Sounders fell 1-0 to Westsound Krug at Starfire. After giving up an early sloppy goal, the Rave Green pressed hard the remainder of the game but were unable to come up with an equalizer.

State player of year, all classifications — Max Browne, Skyline.

Class 4A

Player of year — Max Browne, Skyline.

OFFENSE

QB — Max Browne, jr. Skyline. RB — Ryan Lewis, sr., Eastlake; KeiVarae Russell, sr., Mariner; Parker Henry, sr., Skyview. WR — Michael Rector, sr., Bellarmine Prep; Christian Gasca, sr., Lake Stevens. TE — Caleb Smith, sr., Kentridge. OL — Joshua Garnett, sr., Puyallup; Mike Jones, sr., Eisenhower; Seth Regalado, sr., Mead; Cory English, sr., Auburn; Gates Michel, sr., Chiawana.

DEFENSE

DL — Uso Olive, sr., Federal Way; Sawyer Whalen, sr., Woodinville; Gino Bresolin, sr., Eastlake; Drew Sharkey, sr., Ferris. LB — Jordan Pulu, sr., Federal Way; Tanner Nelson, sr., Union; Peyton Pelluer, jr., Skyline; Jordan Downing, sr., Chiawana. DB — Russell Crippen, sr., Snohomish, D.J. May, sr., Federal Way, Cooper Kupp, sr., Davis, Miquiyah Zamora, sr., Chiawana.

SPECIAL TEAMS

All-purpose — David Fontennett, sr., Bethel. K — Austin Rehkow, jr., Central Valley. P — Korey Durkee, sr., Washington.

HONORABLE MENTION

RB — Kole Heidinger, sr., Ferris. WR — Denzel Jones, sr., Eisenhower; Reiley Henderson, jr., Skyview; Cooper Kupp, sr., Davis. TE — Danny Mattingly, jr., Mead. OL — Max Kelly, sr., Gonzaga Prep; Cody Tupen, sr., Lake Stevens; Dylan Bratlie, sr., Skyview; Matt Cruz, Skyview; Conner Schultz, sr., Olympia. DL — Joel Ragazzo, sr., Bethel; Kyle Lanoue, sr., Central Kitsap. LB — Korey Young, sr., Lake Stevens; Bentley Tran, sr., Olympia; Kurt Karstetter, sr., Ferris; Danny Mattingly, jr., Mead. DB — David Garlington, Skyview; Zed Higgs, sr., Olympia; Wes Bailey, sr., Mead. All-purpose — Colten Hordyk, sr., Arlington; K.W. Williams, sr., Jefferson. P — Marc David, sr., Mead.

Thomas Jefferson High School is offering the Raider Basketball Winter Clinic for boys and girls in second through eighth grade. The camp will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 21 and 22. The cost is $25 per day.

The camp is run by TJ head coach Kyle Templeton inside the school’s gym. Players will need to bring their own sack lunch and all registration will be done at the door the day of the camp. Payments can be made by cash or checks made out to Federal Way Public Schools.

For more information, call Templeton at (206) 518-0503 or email kyle.j.templeton@gmail.com.

The Washington Wrestling Report website came out with its updated high school rankings Thursday. They include rankings for all classifications, along with 4A, 3A, etc. They also include team rankings for all classes.

Beamer’s Ares Carpio is the website’s top-ranked wrestler at 126 pounds and Thomas Jefferson’s K.W. Williams is the top-ranked wrestler at 195 pounds.

For a complete list of the rankings, click here.

This is kind of funny, but still kind of unsettling.

Four students at Riverhead High in Long Island, N.Y., were suspended after Tebowing, in which they struck a pose that Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is known for, in the hall. Jordan Fulcoly, Wayne Drexel and brothers Tyler and Connor Carroll were given one-day suspensions for their homage to Tebow. The school suspended them because other students joined them, clogging the hallways.

Here is video of the incident from the Los Angeles Times.

Portland Trailblazers guard Brandon Roy is planning to announce his retirement due to degenerative knees, perhaps as soon as today, sources with knowledge of Roy’s decision have told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard and ESPN.com’s Chad Ford.

Roy grew up in Seattle and attended Garfield High School before playing four years at the University of Washington.  Roy, 27, has had three knee surgeries in the past 18 months. Last season he averaged a career low 12.2 points while playing in just 47 games as a reserve.

A three-time All-Star, Roy was named the 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year after being drafted sixth overall in the 2006 NBA Draft. Roy’s best season came in 2008-09 when at the age of 24 he averaged 22.6 points and 5.1 assists in 78 games for Portland.

Federal Way High School graduate Talia Walton is set to make her debut on the University of Washington women’s basketball team on Friday when the Huskies host the University of Portland, according to the Seattle Times.

Walton underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right knee in October. Walton was one of the top recruits for Washington’s 2011 class coming out of Federal Way last spring. The 6-foot-2 Walton helped lead the Eagles to three state tournament berths, and was highly sought after because of her ability to score from all areas of the court.

Walton was voted the Associated Press Class 4A Washington Prep Girls Basketball Player of the Year after leading the Eagles into the state title game as a senior.

Walton was also named the South Puget Sound League’s South Division Most Valuable Player, Seattle Times’ Star Times All-Area, The News Tribune’s All-Area Player of the Year and the Mirror’s All-City Player of the Year.

Walton led the Eagles to a perfect 16-0 record in the South Puget Sound League South Division and to the West Central/Southwest District championship, while averaging 17 points and close to 13 rebounds per game. It was the third-straight season that Federal Way has played at the Class 4A State Girls Basketball Tournament.

She also led the SPSL in rebounding during the regular season by grabbing 11.8 per game. Walton also led the league in blocked shots and was 10th in the league in steals (2.13 a game). She was a first-team, All-SPSL North selection for the third time.

Report taken from Soundersfc.com

LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLA. — It was a mixed weekend for Sounders FC Academy as they competed in the US Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase. The U18’s struggled, losing two intense matches and tying their final game, while the U16’s continued their success with three strong victories. The weekend was highlighted by the US U17 Men’s National Team winning the Nike International Friendlies after a 3-1 victory over Brazil on Sunday, thanks in large part to keeper Paul Christensen, a Sounders FC Academy product.

On Friday, the Sounders squads were pitted against Kendall Soccer Club from Miami. The U18’s got in a hole early as Kendall took a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of play. Current Todd Beamer junior Ike Crook cut the lead right before the half when he scored on a header in the 39th minute on an assist from Stefan Bangsund. Kendall came back immediately, however, scoring right after the second half kick in the 40th minute. The Rave Green immediately dialed up the pressure and scored in the 45th when Bangsund volleyed in a cross from Sam Langston, but that would be the last score of the day as Kendall emerged with a 3-2 edge. Things got messy late in the game as a melee broke out about 30 yards from goal as the Sounder U18’s were pressing forward. The scuffle resulted in red card ejections for Sounders Michael Gallagher and Ian Lange.

The U16 Sounders took down Kendall 2-1 on goals from David Olsen and Duncan McCormick. Olsen got the Rave Green on the board in the 31st minute with a nice finish on an assist from James Nosack. In the 53rd, Kyle Bjornethun dribbled up the right sideline past two defenders and crossed to McCormick for the goal. Kendall would score on a defensive miscue in the 68th, but Sounders FC locked it up from there on out to prevent an equalizer. Saturday’s matches saw Sounders FC on the pitch with fellow MLS youth academy FC Dallas.

The U18 game featured a matchup of two USSDA Division Winners from last year, and the teams didn’t disappoint. After no scoring in the first half, Dallas picked up two goals early in the second half and held a 2-0 lead through 70 minutes. However, in the 71st, Rave Green striker Dom Dismuke came alive. Dismuke, who has eight goals in nine USSDA matches this season, picked up goals in the 71st and 85th minutes on assists from Nick Raskasky and Austin Curtis, respectively. The score remained 2-2 until the 90th minute when Dallas picked up a late-winner on a scramble in the box. The Sounders battled tough in 3-2 loss despite missing the players that received red cards on Friday.

In the U16 game, Sounders FC scored three first half goals and cruised to a 3-0 win over FC Dallas, led by a goal and an assist from Olsen. McCormick scored first on a penalty kick in the 25th minute after a handball in the box. Olsen scored in the 29th on a pass from Michael Steele and assisted Miguel Medina’s goal in the 37th. Decatur High School keeper Connor Adkisson gets the clean sheet for Seattle.

After two strong performances over the weekend, U16 defender Jalen Markey was called up to play with the U17/18 Select Team, an all-star team that played in front of US U18 Men’s National Team coach Richie Williams, as well as numerous other scouts and Development Academy Technical Advisors. Markey, who started and played a full 90 minutes for the “Red” side, came up huge in a 1-1 tie against “Blue” on Saturday night. After Paul Arriola (Arsenal FC) put Blue up 1-0 with a goal in the 11th minute, but Red responded in the 61st when Markey accurately placed a cross in the box for Benji Lopez (Real Salt Lake AZ), who rose up and headed in the equalizer.

The teams were off Sunday and went to watch fellow-Sounders FC Academy player Paul Christensen start in goal for the US U17 Men’s National Team against Brazil in the final game of the Nike International Friendlies. Christensen, a Woodinville resident and member of the Sounders FC Pre-Academy squad, is living in Florida as part of the US Men’s National Team residency program. His three saves helped the US win 3-1 and clinch their first ever championship in the tournament. With all the scoring occurring in the first half, Christensen was able to handle Brazil’s increased offensive pressure in the second 45, most notably securing a save on a late-opportunity for Brazil from 15 yards out.

The Monday games concluded the weekend with the Sounders FC teams facing the McLean Academy. The games were played simultaneously at 11:15 a.m. on fields next to each other, with Head Coach Dick McCormick and Sean Henderson coaching the U18 game, and Technical Director Darren Sawatzky and Billy Crook coaching the U16 game. The U18′s tied the match 1-1, getting an unassisted goal from Jordan Schweitzer. Markey was called up to play on the U18 team from the U16 team as a reward for stellar play.

The U16’s beat McLean 3-2 despite going down twice in the game. After McLean scored first in the 15th, the Sounders answered on the kickoff with a goal from Olsen, assisted by Medina. At 1-1, the Rave Green gave up another goal on a defensive miscue, allowing McLean to go up again 2-1. In the 71st minute James Molyneux-Elliot scored an equalizer on an assist from Bjornethun. The game ended in explosive fashion in the last minute, with Olsen scoring again for the winner after a Mark Matula run down the flank, giving the Sounders a 3-2 win. Olsen highlighted the weekend for the U16’s, finishing the weekend with four goals and an assist, while McCormick (two game-winning goals), Bjornethun (two assists), and Medina (goal, assist) also came up big.

The Sounders FC Academy teams play next on December 17th against the Vancouver Whitecaps in another MLS youth academy showdown.

RENTON, WASH. - The Seattle Sounders FC will hold open tryouts on January 21-22, 2012, at the team’s training fields at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. Tryouts will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

The tryouts are open to male soccer players ages 18 years and older. Tryouts will feature small-sided as well as 11v11 games.

Players will be assessed by members of the Sounders FC technical and coaching staffs, including Head Coach Sigi Schmid, General Manager Adrian Hanauer and Technical Director Chris Henderson. In addition, other approved assessors will oversee the tryouts including goalkeeper coaches.

“We continue to seek the best domestic and foreign talent that can help the Sounders be more successful on the pitch,” said Sounders FC Technical Director Chris Henderson. “Anytime a player has a chance to perform in front of a professional coaching staff with hopes of pursuing his lifelong dreams, it is very exciting.”

The registration cost for each player is $125. Space is limited and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

To register, visit SoundersFC.com/opentryouts.

Once applications are accepted participants will receive email notification.