Training photo courtesy Brad Smith Olympic photo courtest Michael Pimentel isiphotos.com

Wambach a Hit with Young Soccer Players
ONEONTA, NY (October 1, 2008) – U.S. Women’s National Team star Abby Wambach visited the National Soccer Hall of Fame this past weekend to tell over 500 middle school students of her experiences playing professional and international soccer. The students were members of teams participating in the 1st Annual Glenn ‘Mooch’ Myernick Middle School Soccer Jamboree.

“It was a wonderful day for our kids,” one of the coaches reported. “The overall educational effort was great, but certainly having my players listen to and ask questions of a player like Abby, well, they were just awestruck! And I was too!!”

The weekend also featured a well attended Saturday evening presentation in the Museum. In all three programs Abby spoke of meeting her latest challenge, recovering from the broken leg she suffered in the final warm-up game before the Olympics. “From the first moment I accepted that my leg was broken and that the team had to move forward without me. That was uppermost in my mind as I lay on the field waiting for help. I had to be strong so they could be strong. I had to focus on the next step, rehabilitating the injury and supporting my teammates as they played for the Gold Medal. I was both sick and confident after they lost the first match. I knew they could be successful and when Carli Lloyd scored in the final I did as much celebrating as my physical condition would allow!”

The Myernick Jamboree brought 28 teams to the Hall of Fame for games and a day of educational activity. Teams were provided with the Ask, Listen, Learn program that provides both kids and parents with information and strategies to help jumpstart the conversation about the dangers of underage drinking (www.asklistenlearn.com), clinic sessions by the SUNY - Delhi College men’s and women’s soccer teams, educational sessions on nutrition by a Bassett Healthcare educator, and the Reality Check program on the tobacco industry marketing to teens.

“This event was a tremendous success,” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. “We provided a community service, we encouraged kids to play more soccer by helping them become better players through the clinic sessions and Abby’s programs, and we, hopefully, have given them long-lasting advice on making positive life choices.”

The weekend’s programming was made possible by support from The Century Council, the A. Lindsay & Olive B. O'Connor Foundation, Bassett Healthcare, MVP Healthcare and the Otsego County Bed Tax Event Grants Program. Otsego County Tourism, 800.843.3394, www.visitcooperstown.com