Conestoga Girls Soccer Youth Clinic

ah [ah]
–interjection
(used as an exclamation of pain, surprise, pity, joy, satisfaction, dislike, delight, etc., according to the manner of utterance)

Okay, so at times we admit this summer’s mad dash to drum up funds and spread the word about SWB has bordered on what some might call “helter-skelter”. Kay and I have spoken at BBQs, in people’s homes, and over dinner with friends; we’ve presented in classrooms and at college camps, clinics, and training sessions; we’ve visited high schools and bars (perhaps those two shouldn’t be placed in the same sentence fragment); we’ve even set up string bracelet shops in the **School to Remain Unnamed For Liability Purposes** dorms. We’ve taken the proverbial leave-no-stone-left-unturned approach and in the process uttered every brand of “ah” we know. But for every ah of pain, dislike, pity, or exhaustion, we’ve had occasion for twice as many ah’s of delight. In large part, we can thank SWB’s newest batch of generous and enthusiastic supporters for the success we’ve enjoyed this summer.

One of our most positive ah moments to-date came in August when we were approached by Danielle Fagan, Head Coach of the Girls Varsity Soccer Team at Conestoga High School and Founder/Director of soccerdcf, a soccer program which focuses on developing players both on and off the field. We had just given an ah-ful SWB camp presentation plagued with more technical snafus than even the Penn State IT Techs knew how to tackle. Danielle, however, was immediately taken with our cause and wanted to help. She suggested we join forces at her team’s Youth Clinic later in the summer, offering to donate a portion of the profits to SWB Granada. Talk about ah-some! (Okay. No more clever ah’s from here on out. Promise.)

So on September 2nd, the Conestoga Girls Team, led by goalkeeper Alex Stone, welcomed 100 girls ages 4-11 for a Youth Soccer Clinic with proceeds going to support both their school’s soccer program and ours in Nicaragua.



Head Coach Fagan credits her team for the event’s success. “I was so incredibly proud of the Conestoga Girls Soccer Players as they were the ones who made it an exceptional experience for the little girls. The leadership of our seniors and contribution by all Stoga players was amazing.” She adds "…they are excited to be able to have a portion of the proceeds donated to SWB, and hope to continue to work with SWB as team Ambassadors.” Well Kay and I, for two, could not be happier to welcome this group aboard.



The school’s soccer program is not new to fundraising for a good cause. In 2005, they held a similar clinic which helped raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. These clinics give the Conestoga Girls Soccer players an opportunity to give back to the local youth soccer community as well as make a difference.



Huge thanks to Danielle Fagan for being so instrumental in making this event happen; thank you to the members of the Stoga Girls Varsity Soccer team for your continued support – we look forward to working with you as Ambassadors again; thank you to the young girls who took part in the clinic, many of whom are members of the local Tredyffrin Easttown Youth Soccer Association (no wonder everyone just calls it TEYSA).

Stoga – we ah-pplaud you for your efforts! (Sorry - couldn’t resist) Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your Clinic and best of luck this season. Keep playing for change!