BEACH BREAKERS WIN NATIONAL HOMESCHOOL SOCCER TOURNAMENT
Top Coach Ben Coach Tim Joel Alex Jeremy Curtis Jake Alex Cory Chad Jeremy
Coach Joel
Kennon Fischer Barr Fediw Blackburn Conner Reynolds Whittemore Loper Sawyer
Morris Mann
Bottom Mark Jason Sam Miles Caleb Kevin Andy Derrick Michael
Spence Bowen Alvarez Lewis Nobles Fischer Bracy Morris Fediw
The Beach Breakers boys’ varsity soccer team completed a very successful
season coming together as an unstoppable unit. The Breakers were undefeated
in all EVAC (Eastern Virginia Athletic Conference) games during the regular
season and were awarded the2005 EVAC trophy.
Then to fulfill many months of planning, the Breakers left early on November
2 to compete in the NCHAA (National Christian Homeschool Athletic Association)
national tournament in Bellevue, Nebraska. Fourteen players with three coaches
-Joel Mann, Ben Kennon, and Stevie Nichols - and six parents flew to Bellevue,
Nebraska.
Their first playing opportunity was November 3 at 1:00 P.M. against the Wichita,
Kansas Warriors. At the end of a hard-played first half, the score was Breakers
2, Wichita 0, with goals by Jake Reynolds and Alex Fediw. Then the conditioned
endurance of the Breakers kicked in and the Breakers scored with six goals
from Jeremy Blackburn, Cory Loper, Jake Reynolds, and Alex Whittemore to win
the game 8 to 0.The championship game was at 1:00 P.M. on November 5. The
Breakers faced the Sterling Heights, MI Summit. This was a soccer game that
tested the Breakers’ total game playing abilities, both athletic skills
and mental focus. To relieve the intense stress of the national championship
game, the coaches developed a team cheer, “We don’t stop.”
. Five seniors, Jeremy Blackburn, Alex Fediw, Mike Fediw, Miles Lewis, and
Derrek Morris, were keenly aware that these were their last moments in the
Breakers’ uniform. Despite often desperate efforts by Summit to foil
the Breakers’ championship bid, the Breakers prevailed in this last
game to win the national championship by a score of 7 to 0.
The Breakers had won all three games to clinch the championship. Goalkeeper
Miles Lewis and the defensive line of Chas Sawyer, Mike Fediw, and Joel Barr
were not scored on during any tournament games enabling the Breakers to shut
out all opponents.
After the Breakers traditional after-game lap, the team was awarded the NCHAA
2005 National Championship trophy. Jeremy Blackburn was awarded the NCHAA
National Tournament MVP trophy and NCHAA All-Tournament medals were awarded
to Miles Lewis, Derrik Morris, and Chas Sawyer. Joel Barr was awarded the
Christian Character award.
After sharing their victory with the Breakers girls’ volleyball team,
the Breakers celebrated at a restaurant before driving back to Kansas City
on November 5. The National Champs celebrated their blessings, achievements,
and sacrifices until about 4:00 A.M. (Remember the “we don’t stop”
cheer?) when it was time to begin the trip back home. A 6:17 A.M. flight to
Detroit followed by a flight into Norfolk brought the Breakers back home to
a crowd of cheering families.