STAFF REPORTS

Fusion soccer players include (left to right, front row) Riley Scarborough, Anissa Garcia, Kat Salmeron, Victoria Ratliff; (second row) Taylor Cruz, Tabitha Rodriguez, Alex Nieto, Juliet Sillers, Mercedes Gilmore-Castillo; (top row) Team Manager Cary Ratliff, Mary Fowler, Amy Simmons, Karlie Schroeder, Gabbi Elsner, Claire Ardrey, Callie Torres, Trainer Chad Bennett. Kayla Johnson not pictured. (Courtesy photo)

The Hays Youth Soccer Association (HYSA) Fusion 97 Girls Blue team earned the championship title by winning the South Texas Youth Soccer Association (STYSA) President’s Cup State Championship on Saturday, May 22.  The team will now compete in the 2010 Region III President’s Cup which will include teams from the twelve Region III state associations. The competition will be held in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in June. The Region III President’s Cup Champions in each age bracket will compete in the National President’s Cup Tournament in July.

This win was a first for the team, and the first time in eight years that an HYSA team advanced to this level.

South Texas President’s Cup is the second highest level of competition in STYSA and is open to all South Texas registered boys and girls teams in the Under 11 through Under 19 age groups.  This competition determines the STYSA President’s Cup Champions in each respective age group.  The U13 through U17 first place teams will advance to represent STYSA at the USYS Region III President’s Cup Competition in June.