Troy 11-U team heads to Andalusia for District tournament

Published 10:44 pm Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Putting together a group of kids and expecting to win is no easy task.

To do that in a little over two weeks makes things a bit trickier.

But that’s what Jay Wilson and his 11-and-under recreation soccer tournament team is looking to do and with District taking place in just a matter of days, the coach and the players were on the field Tuesday night putting together the final pieces.

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So far, so good, according to Wilson.

“We are coming together pretty well,” Wilson said during his team’s practice.

“We need some work in some areas, but we have a great group of kids that are playing well right now and having some fun.”

On Monday, the team scrimmaged with the same age group from Enterprise, and though the team lost 4-2, Wilson said a lot of things were gained during that game.

“We learned a lot about what kind of a team we have,” he said.

“We saw that we have a really good ability to go the ball, but we need to be looking for the open guy more often. The guys have been working really hard to get ready for Saturday,” Wilson said. “They have done a good job of coming together.”

The 14-member team is made up of Adam Bensinger, Decklan Brooks, Dalton Earles, X’Zavieyan Green, Dawson Hamlin, Michael Jennelle, Clay Labrant, Noah Lowery, Jake Maddox, Will Sessions, Trae Sullivant, Jalen Tuck and Logan and Stewart Wilson.

To start tournament play off, the boys will be facing Ozark in Andalusia.

“Ozark has always traditionally had a very good team, and the same can be said for Andalusia,” Wilson said.

“So we are going to have our hands full right off the bat, but we scrimmaged a good Enterprise team and did pretty well so I think that showed that we can play with just about anyone.”

Regardless of the wins or the losses, Wilson said his team was doing the most important thing – having fun.

“Everyone is really enjoying themselves out here,” he said. “They are all working hard but they are all having fun playing with each other, so it’s a lot of fun to watch.”

Along with Wilson, Keith Sessions and Brian Salmon are coaches on the team.

“Both guys have been helping out a lot with the team,” Wilson said.

“We have been working a lot of the fundamentals of the game this week and to have those guys here really helps the kids learn the game better.”