This Month in Marin FC – April 2018
This Month in Marin FC summarizes the month’s news and notes in a series of ‘high-level’ briefs from various club constituents.
In This Edition
From the President
Here are a few highlights and news tidbits from the past month:
Touchstone and Talisman
There are many things to report on as we head into the spring season, tryouts, team formation and beyond. However, it is an infrequent opportunity for an entity to really examine itself, it’s place in a community, and its future aspirations. Many of the club’s leaders, both volunteers and coaches, enjoyed just such an opportunity over the past few months by undertaking a top to bottom examination and re-write of the Marin FC mission and core values. Here’s their product:
Mission Statement
Marin FC provides an environment that inspires and advances players to the highest levels possible. We achieve this by emphasizing a culture of integrity, responsibility and commitment in training and competition, while using the game of soccer as a vehicle to build character and teach life lessons.
Core Values
Marin FC endeavors to set a standard of excellence and maintain a code of conduct honoring the game that is recognized on a local, state, national and international level in the pursuit of our mission by executing the following core values:
For Players …
- Create an environment where competing, player development, quality of play, collective play and sportsmanship are all equally important. In the Marin FC environment, creativity and risk taking are encouraged and integral to development.
- Develop the individual player by maintaining a curriculum in accordance with US Soccer and other governing bodies, in the technical, tactical, physical and psycho-social aspects of the game.
- Safeguard players’ health through appropriate guidance regarding nutrition, exercise, recovery, and avoiding the use of prohibited substances.
- Foster player-coach relationships that include open and honest dialogue to encourage self-advocacy for individual player development.
- Encourage players to seek higher education and assist with opportunities to play soccer at all levels, including collegiate, regional, national and international programs.
- Provide financial assistance, to the best of our ability, for those in need.
- Inspire a life-long passion and love for the beautiful game.
For Coaches …
- Assist coaches with player development by providing needed equipment and access to the highest quality facilities possible.
- Provide structure and resources that support coaches in achieving the highest level of their craft, including licensure and other accreditations.
- Foster coach-player relationships that encourage open and honest dialogue, constructive feedback and positive reinforcement.
- Develop coaches in the pursuit of the full range of player core values, including affirmation that in player growth, mistakes are viewed as lessons learned and setbacks are opportunities for further development.
For Community …
- Encourage camaraderie and a commitment to self, team, club and community including service to others both inside and outside the club.
- Impart to players that their progression occurs in a larger context, and their development as a player and person reflects on their club, family and community.
- Recognize and celebrate players, coaches and volunteers for their contribution to team, club and community.
I’m immensely thankful to all contributors and thrilled to able to share this end-result with you.
Evan Cross, President
From the Director of Coaching
This past month was a relatively quiet one, as folks transitioned from high school soccer into club. Here are a few highlights:
High School Wrap Up
High school soccer finished up and ‘FC kids’ represented our schools both at the NCS level and NorCal level. It was great to see so many of our players continue to do well and grow as leaders and mentors within their respective high school programs. Congratulations to our older kids on their successes!
In Tournament Play
There was lots of action on the field this past month. Our 03B Blue, 04B Red, 04G Red teams took part in the Las Vegas Showcase, our 01G Blue, 02G Blue and 03G Blue participated in the Jefferson Cup, and our 04B Blue took part in the Iber Cup in Dallas. We have several teams in the round of 16 in State Cup, each with a chance of going all the way, and our 00B Blue team is prepping to head to Virginia for the boy’s edition of the Jefferson Cup in early April.
In League Play
All our teams are ‘back in the saddle’ in NorCal Premier League and NPL play. It’s also worthy to note that our girls are 6-2-3 against ECNL opposition in 2018, a fact we are all very excited about!
Sunshine & Smiles
It’s been a busy month, and with the light we gained back in mid-March we’re getting back out on the field and looking forward to warmth, dry weather and lots of soccer.
– Josh Kalkstein, DOC
In the Spotlight
This month’s spotlight features an interview with Claremont McKenna freshman, Nate Huntington. Here’s what he had to say:
Tell our readers a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in San Francisco where I lived with my sister Alissa, mom Shelly, and dad Tom. Even though we lived in the city, my sister and I went to Marin Country Day School. She started playing for Mill Valley a few years before me. Mill Valley led both of us to Marin FC. Alissa is three years older than me and played for Middlebury these past four years. I went to University High School and played for Deejae Johnson, as did she. At UHS I became interested in History and English classes despite liking Science and Math more in middle school. Other than playing soccer and spending time with family and friends in High School, I enjoyed surfing, reading, and backpacking when I had time.
Recollect your Marin FC experience if you will.
Our team had its ups and downs, but all throughout I loved playing with the guys on my team and playing under the coaches we had. We started off strong in our first two years, making some runs at Surf Cup and even winning State Cup. One of my favorite moments was our team trip to North Carolina for Nationals. We didn’t play too well, but our opponents were some of the best we ever played against and a great challenge. By the end of our time, we had lost several players to Academy, both intermittently and permanently, which had an impact on our team. Even through the tough times, though, I learned a lot about the game and kept developing as a player and made some amazing friends.
What other schools did you look at and why did you ultimately pick Claremont McKenna?
I was a borderline D1-D3 player and so I chose to focus on the teams I could make an impact on while also enjoying college life beyond soccer. I was interested in Princeton, Bowdoin, Brown, Colgate, Tufts and several others, but ultimately chose Claremont McKenna. I had established a good relationship with the coach during the recruitment process and saw CMC as a great balance between soccer and collegiate life. Claremont McKenna is part of a consortium with four other undergraduate colleges. Each college identifies as a liberal arts college but specializes in different fields, and since you can take classes at any of the schools, you get a small school feel without compromising class options. Also, it’s great being able to play outside all-year-round and stay relatively close to home—two things I wouldn’t have gotten to do playing at some of the other schools I was considering.
What were some of the adjustments you had to make to successfully transition from club to collegiate ball?
I was coming off a torn MCL entering this season, so the customary freshman nerves of being too small and weak really got to me. Our first game was a scrimmage against UCSD. I remember looking at their players and thinking, “Wow, I’m gonna get crushed out there,” and a few times I did. Throughout the season I learned how to deal with the physicality. For me, it was more of a mental battle, having to trust my relatively small and weak frame to win tackles. Once I started believing I could hang with the guys I was playing against, I could.
Summarize your collegiate soccer career to date. What have been some of the highlights?
Our first season was rough but was full of promise and hope. We had high expectations despite having a young team. In our first game of the season, we started six freshmen, including me. I continued to start in all but one game, which I see as my greatest achievement. Along with starting consistently, I would say scoring the game winning goal against Cal Tech was a highlight.
What are you learning as a collegiate athlete that you’ll take into post collegiate life?
Really living in the present and committing all attention to what I’m doing. I remember several Marin FC coaches telling me to forget the outside distractions while playing to really focus on the practice or game. The message resonated with me then, and rings even more true now. Be it training or studying, I commit myself fully to whatever I’m doing in that moment, so I can maximize time and output.
From athletics to academics. What are you studying?
I haven’t declared a major yet. There’s a cool program at CMC called PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics), but it requires application in the fall of Sophomore year. I will likely apply for that next year. As of now I’m on the course to dual major in Literature and Government.
Any interests outside of soccer?
I listen to a lot of music and so like going to concerts. I skateboard a little in my free time, and surf whenever I can, which hasn’t been too frequently this year because my ride to the beach, Marin FC alum Luc Stervinou, has been abroad this semester. I also enjoy reading and writing in my free time. This summer I’m going to South America for CMC’s Appel Fellowship to write about how each country views and interacts with the World Cup, while looking at the greater intersection of South American literature and soccer.
Any thoughts about life after college?
That’s up in the air for me. Right now, I’m hoping to attend law school, maybe focusing on environmental law, but my view of life after college seems to change every few weeks.
The Marin FC alumni community is alive and well. Do you keep in touch with many of your former teammates?
Nate Joseph was my teammate at Mill Valley, Marin FC, and now at Claremont McKenna and we’re rooming together next year, so he’s the person I’m closest to. I’ll talk to an assortment of former teammates every few weeks to check in. I’m planning to get together with some of the guys this summer.
Anyone you want to thank or recognize at Marin FC?
I loved every one of my coaches and I am immensely grateful for what each one of them taught me. Rick Fullerton taught me my work ethic and toughness, and Steve Sosa instilled a desire to win. I’d especially like to thank Dave Frank for helping me find a ‘playing identity’ and sticking with our team through thick and thin. He gave his full heart and intellect to the team throughout and was amazing. Also, I’d like to recognize the other coaches who pushed me while playing for other teams, including Josh, Kelly, and Phil.
Before I let you go, give us a little insight into your interests and passions. Name three books on your book shelf, three gadgets you couldn’t live without, and three artists/bands in your IPod.
For books, This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz, Jesus’s Son by Denis Johnson, and Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galleano. For artists, I’d say Tame Impala, Travis Scott and King Krule. As for gadgets, I’d have to say my computer, iPhone, and Xbox (although honestly, I’m not a huge fan of any of them).
How can our readers follow you if they’d like to track your athletic activities?
They can follow our team at http://www.cmsathletics.org/sports/msoc/index.
From the Director of Development
Eloi Vasquez
Eloi Run Registration is Open
Register Now!
Registration is open for the 3rd Annual Eloi Vasquez Marin Headlands Memorial Run and Walk on June 9th, 2018. Join hundreds of friends and families in honoring and celebrating Eloi Vasquez’s life and achievements, and in doing so keep his memory alive and support the Eloi Vasquez “Living for the Game” scholarship fund. With the help of our vibrant community, the past two annual events have raised $80,000 of the $125,000 needed to fully fund one full scholarship in perpetuity in Eloi’s honor. Accordingly, we urge you to be one of the many that crosses the finish line on June 9 and raises the $45,000 needed to keep his legacy alive forever.
Eloi Vasquez (1995 – 2015) was a resident of Mill Valley, a Marin FC soccer standout and a student-athlete at UC Berkeley. He was tragically killed in a car accident on March 28, 2015. After his death, his family and friends launched the “Living for the Game” scholarship fund to embody Eloi’s dedication to family, commitment to personal growth and academics, and passion for the game. The fund awards a grant annually to a female and/or male Marin FC soccer player or players that personify Eloi’s character and spirit on and off the field.
The event offers competitive and non-competitive run options as well as two walking courses. Prizes will be awarded to winners in the men’s and women’s competitive bracket. Participants that register by May 15th, 2018 are guaranteed to receive a free custom-designed event t-shirt.
Got Team News?
To share a game summary or tournament recap:
- Visit MarinFC.com
- Locate ‘Media & Info’ under ‘About Marin FC’ at the top of the page
- Click ‘Submit an Article’
Alternatively, click here: https://forms.marinfc.com/submit-an-article/
Edited posts will be added to our website homepage “latest club news” section and posted on our Facebook page within 48 hours. We encourage you to use this tool to keep all in the club informed re: individual and team accomplishments. A big thanks to those of you that use it already.
– Ian Tonks, Director of Development