- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,264,618
- Reaction score
- 59
Jul. 30—MITCHELL — For the past three and a half years, Adia Hektner has spent weekends traveling across South Dakota and beyond, chasing a dream with a group of soccer players brought together from every corner of the state.
Last weekend, all of that work paid off.
Hektner, a rising Mitchell High School sophomore, helped South Dakota United Spirit capture the United States Club Soccer U-16 National Championship in Denver, Colorado, capping a memorable five-day tournament with a 3-0 victory over Desert Community of Southern California in the championship match on Friday, July 24.
"It was a very exciting moment for me and my team because it was something we have been working toward for a long time, and it was kind of a relief," Hektner said. "We went into that game with a lot of confidence, and we had a good feeling going into it."
The title marked the culmination of a remarkable season for South Dakota United Spirit, which qualified for nationals after posting a perfect 5-0 record to win the U-16 Premier 1 championship in the U.S. Club Soccer Midwest Regionals in Chicago in June. The club also claimed a tournament championship at a showcase event in Las Vegas in March.
At nationals, South Dakota United competed against six of the top U-16 clubs in the country. Spirit opened tournament play with a 2-2 draw against Arlington, Virginia, before earning a 4-1 victory over Athens, Georgia, and a 3-2 win over Sporting Iowa to advance. In the championship game, Spirit closed the national tournament with a 3-0 win over Desert Community to bring a national title back to South Dakota.
The roster featured players from Yankton, Watertown, Aberdeen, Spearfish, Rapid City, along with one player from North Dakota and another from Montana. Hektner was the lone representative from Mitchell, and she said the club has helped her grow both on and off the field.
"It has really taught me how to relax, stay calm, and comfortable in a different kind of pressure that you might not experience within our state," Hektner said. "And this will only help me going into the high school season, too. I have a different confidence now. It has also helped me to be a new leader because I have had to come out of my shell, you know, being the only Mitchell girl on the team and learn to work with new people. And I think that will help with the underclassmen coming up to play with Mitchell High School, as well."
Hektner's journey with South Dakota United began before she reached high school. After being coached through the under-10 through under-12 levels by Chris Pollreisz during his time with the Mitchell Soccer Association, Pollreisz moved to Watertown after being recruited by South Dakota United to coach. Before leaving Mitchell, he served as president of the Mitchell Soccer Association for five years and coached with the organization for nine years.
As Hektner prepared to enter seventh grade, Pollreisz invited her to attend a South Dakota United training weekend. She accepted the opportunity and has remained with the club ever since.
"As I began my journey with South Dakota United, Adia was always a player that I was looking at as a potential player to compete at this level," Pollreisz said. "Adia has all of the right characteristics and has a lot of aggressiveness. She has a love and passion for the sport. And when you find a player that has that much passion, those are the players that you want to take to the next level."
Pollreisz said bringing together talented players from communities across the state has opened doors that many young athletes otherwise would not have.
"This is the second team I have had at South Dakota United, and the one thing that is amazing about bringing these players together is just seeing them be able to tackle the next step at a national level," Pollreisz said. "When I was with the Mitchell Soccer Association, the local clubs, they are not able to journey outside of the state and this gives those players that opportunity. Mitchell is a great community and it has a stellar soccer program. It's clubs like the MSA that provide these players to take the next step."
Hektner credits Pollreisz for helping shape her development over the years.
"Coach Pollreisz has set a lot of goals and pushed us to be our best," Hektner said. "Obviously, he has been my coach for a long time and he has been a big help for me and my soccer skills."
Now, after helping bring a national championship home to South Dakota, Hektner returns to Mitchell with valuable experience and added confidence that she hopes will carry over when the high school season begins this fall. MHS girls soccer opens the season with a matchup against Huron on Aug. 14 at Joe Quintal Field.
Continue reading...
Last weekend, all of that work paid off.
Hektner, a rising Mitchell High School sophomore, helped South Dakota United Spirit capture the United States Club Soccer U-16 National Championship in Denver, Colorado, capping a memorable five-day tournament with a 3-0 victory over Desert Community of Southern California in the championship match on Friday, July 24.
"It was a very exciting moment for me and my team because it was something we have been working toward for a long time, and it was kind of a relief," Hektner said. "We went into that game with a lot of confidence, and we had a good feeling going into it."
The title marked the culmination of a remarkable season for South Dakota United Spirit, which qualified for nationals after posting a perfect 5-0 record to win the U-16 Premier 1 championship in the U.S. Club Soccer Midwest Regionals in Chicago in June. The club also claimed a tournament championship at a showcase event in Las Vegas in March.
At nationals, South Dakota United competed against six of the top U-16 clubs in the country. Spirit opened tournament play with a 2-2 draw against Arlington, Virginia, before earning a 4-1 victory over Athens, Georgia, and a 3-2 win over Sporting Iowa to advance. In the championship game, Spirit closed the national tournament with a 3-0 win over Desert Community to bring a national title back to South Dakota.
The roster featured players from Yankton, Watertown, Aberdeen, Spearfish, Rapid City, along with one player from North Dakota and another from Montana. Hektner was the lone representative from Mitchell, and she said the club has helped her grow both on and off the field.
"It has really taught me how to relax, stay calm, and comfortable in a different kind of pressure that you might not experience within our state," Hektner said. "And this will only help me going into the high school season, too. I have a different confidence now. It has also helped me to be a new leader because I have had to come out of my shell, you know, being the only Mitchell girl on the team and learn to work with new people. And I think that will help with the underclassmen coming up to play with Mitchell High School, as well."
Hektner's journey with South Dakota United began before she reached high school. After being coached through the under-10 through under-12 levels by Chris Pollreisz during his time with the Mitchell Soccer Association, Pollreisz moved to Watertown after being recruited by South Dakota United to coach. Before leaving Mitchell, he served as president of the Mitchell Soccer Association for five years and coached with the organization for nine years.
As Hektner prepared to enter seventh grade, Pollreisz invited her to attend a South Dakota United training weekend. She accepted the opportunity and has remained with the club ever since.
"As I began my journey with South Dakota United, Adia was always a player that I was looking at as a potential player to compete at this level," Pollreisz said. "Adia has all of the right characteristics and has a lot of aggressiveness. She has a love and passion for the sport. And when you find a player that has that much passion, those are the players that you want to take to the next level."
Pollreisz said bringing together talented players from communities across the state has opened doors that many young athletes otherwise would not have.
"This is the second team I have had at South Dakota United, and the one thing that is amazing about bringing these players together is just seeing them be able to tackle the next step at a national level," Pollreisz said. "When I was with the Mitchell Soccer Association, the local clubs, they are not able to journey outside of the state and this gives those players that opportunity. Mitchell is a great community and it has a stellar soccer program. It's clubs like the MSA that provide these players to take the next step."
Hektner credits Pollreisz for helping shape her development over the years.
"Coach Pollreisz has set a lot of goals and pushed us to be our best," Hektner said. "Obviously, he has been my coach for a long time and he has been a big help for me and my soccer skills."
Now, after helping bring a national championship home to South Dakota, Hektner returns to Mitchell with valuable experience and added confidence that she hopes will carry over when the high school season begins this fall. MHS girls soccer opens the season with a matchup against Huron on Aug. 14 at Joe Quintal Field.
Continue reading...
