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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2021)
2B | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS Soccer spread out anyway, because of the way you want to be moving the ball around the field,” she said. “So, aside from asking people not to do high fives and fist bumps, and the ritual of shaking the other team's hand at the end of the game and congratulating them on a game well played, our play doesn't have to change.” In addition to the added change of wearing masks, consistently using sanitizer and practicing social dis- tancing, spectators will not be allowed to attend match- es for the time being as Lane County remains in the extreme risk category. But Tomaro is hopeful that will change in the near future. “If our county goes from 1B to become complacent about anything. It's just been an exciting run, and I'm sure it's going to keep going that way.” Tomaro has been work- ing consistently to build up the school’s soccer pro- gram, which until 2018 was not even a possibility. This year’s two seniors on the team have seen the growth firsthand, and the squad’s juniors will be the first in history to have played soccer for the Vikings since the ninth grade. “Up to that point, kids had kind of moved into high school sports with the thought, ‘if I want to play for my school, I have to stop playing soccer…’ This year's juniors are the first kids who are going to be able to play all the way through,” said Tomaro. “It's kind of the end of the era of ‘I play soccer on the side and do something else for my school.’ The junior class [has] been the core of my team for a long time.” Fortunately, there will be no shortage of student ath- letes to continue the pro- gram after this point. Tomaro said she has a strong group of 10th-grad- ers this year, along with a large group of ninth grad- ers who are going to see a lot of playing time. “They're going to be the ones filling in the spots when I have kids graduat- ing in the next couple of years. So, it's really exciting to see them filling in as I have kids going up,” Tomaro said. “They're coming in — a lot of them — with a good amount of skill. And it's really exciting to see this program grow.” The steady growth is one reason the school was able to add a JV team to the program this school year. “Right now, we have 17 signed up, but a lot of my returning players haven't actually gotten their names officially in yet,” Tomaro said. “So, I think we'll have about 24 players, which is just enough for the two teams that we've sched- uled everything for.” Another reason the Vikings will have two teams this year is the result of their winning record last year, according to Tomaro. “It’s a whole new world going into var- sity. We played all the JV teams in our league last year. So that was good to see the different variety of competitive levels in our league,” she explained. “But then we knew toward the end of the season that we were going to be mov- ing up to varsity this year, because last year, we were undefeated; we tied two and won the rest.” As the Vikings rise to meet the level of competi- tion worthy of their steadily growing squad, Tomaro has been doing all she can to prepare the players. “We knew at the end of the season that we were going to have varsity this year, and so I got permis- sion to take the kids that were interested to a varsi- ty game with Marist,” said Tomaro. “We watched their varsity play, and there's a big difference even within that one school between their JV that we had played and the varsity that we went to watch — so it's going to be a bit of a step up for us.” Despite the major shift in level of competition, Tomaro believes the Vikings can handle it. “We're going to be fine, but it'll take a little getting used to from a coaching perspective, and also from the competitor’s perspec- down to ‘high [risk]’ from ‘extreme [risk],’ 75 people are allowed at outdoor events and then maybe a few spectators could come,” said Tomaro. “So, I'm crossing my fingers for this next two weeks. It’s going to happen right before our season, so I'm hopeful that we can at least maybe rotate the parents through.” Siuslaw’s first game of the season is at home, when the Vikings host Marist High School on March 2. The JV game will kick things off at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 6:30 p.m. Both games will be held at the high school’s east baseball field at the corner of Oak and 27th streets. ZEAHNA YOUNG/SIUSLAW NEWS Though optional practices like Wedneday’s have been taking place since the begining of Season One, official practices for Season Two begin Monday. tive,” Tomaro said. “I have confidence in them that they're going to step up to the higher level of play, but I think they might need to see it once or twice before they say, ‘Okay, this is what we're aiming for.’ “This year will definitely be a journey, but I'm look- ing forward to it.” One thing players have to look forward to this sea- son is a great deal of time on the field. “Everybody who's play- ing will get a lot of playing time, which is going to really build the team together as cohesive units, each team,” said Tomaro. “And also, those kids that don't have as much experi- ence are going to get a ton of play time, which will be really good for their player development, and increas- ing that experience just through the play time com- petition. I'm really excited about that.” Tomaro went on to explain that she’s been tell- ing players, regardless of the amount of previous playing time last year, any- one who plays is going to be a big part of whichever team they're on. “Whether they're on one team all the time, kind of helping both teams, going back and forth, whatever it is — everybody's going to be contributing a lot to wher- ever they are,” she said. While the soccer pro- gram is expanding, at this juncture the team is still technically a boys team, with girls playing alongside the boys until the school has enough female players sign up. “Until we grow the girls program, they are all wel- come to play on the boys team,” Tomaro explained, adding: “And let me just say that they are extremely important parts of our team. And they know it and their teammates know it. We couldn't do what we've done without them having been the players that they are.” Tomaro went on to dis- cuss the possibilities for the future of girls soccer at Siuslaw High School. “I have four girls this year, which in the past two years, we've had three each year — so I'm excited we got a little growth there,” Tomaro said. “Hopefully, the next year few years have more girls, and I'm hoping they'll stick with soccer and we can keep growing that program. [Then] the girls can branch out into their own team Do you part and volunteer today to help support these organizations in our community. Share your love! Give back by volunteering at Florence Habitat for Humanity. Call Ivy @ 541-902-9227 Assisting those in need in our Community. Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM HELPING HANDS COALITION New Location:Community Baptist Church 4590 Hwy. 101, Florence (Across from Fred Meyer) Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer relies heavily on volunteers. Th ere are many opportunities to volunteer and a variety of skills and talents are always in need. Volunteer interest forms may be found online, at the shelter and at our Th rift Shop on Bay Street. www.oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/volunteer/ Saving men one PSA test at a time. 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net Someone to talk to... who understands! To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441 which, even the ones who compete well on the boys team, I think they'd like to have a girls team.” In the meantime, after a very long break, players are ready to get back out on the field and compete. “We played fall of 2019. And then this year's fall season got pushed back several months, so we haven't played since well before COVID,” said Tomaro. Luckily, soccer is a sport with a mode of play that adapts well to the new health and safety regula- tions required by athletes since the outbreak of COVID-19. Though the summer program was cut short, Tomaro was able to hold a few practices. “We're fortu- nate that soccer is mostly a sport where people are Hoberg’s Cel e 70 brat + Y ing ear s! Complete Auto Repair www.hobergsautorepair.com New Service d Offere FREE Taxi Ride via: River Cities Taxies Florence City Limits Only From our shop to your home or work 345 Hwy. 101 • P.O. Box 357 Florence, OR 97439-0012 • 541-997-2413 Serving Your Auto Needs Since 1945 Kevin McMullen 3rd Generation Owner, hobergsautorepair@gmail.com Faith – Friendship - Fellowship – Fun CHURCH DIRECTORY To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST FOURSQUARE CHURCH OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337 2705 Munsel Lake Road, All are welcome! Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family. Zoom Worship Services: 10 AM & 11:30 AM Sunday. Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m. Bishop Larry Farnsworth 541-999-1979 Wednesday Bible Study returns this Fall. Website: florence4square.com COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418 NEW LIFE LUTHERAN E.L.C.A. Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45 21st & Spruce Streets—997-8113 Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. – Pastor Jim Abbott, All are welcome. Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m. Sunday in-person worship service@ 10:30. Also available to you on website www.florencenewlifelutheran.org. CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD Corner of 10th & Maple- 541-997-3533 Sunday Services are 9am and 11am and on PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW Facebook live and KCST at 11am 3996 N Hwy 101 541-997-7136 Wednesdays at 7pm Internet and in person Sunday services at 10AM, https://www.florencecrossroadag.org/church-online Call the church for details. Other platforms update after the service. Reverend Greg Wood florencecrossroadag.org All Welcome. Come as you are. office@florencecrossroadag.org RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) “War is still not the answer.” FCNL FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH Since we meet in homes, we are taking a mindful pause. 2nd & Ivy - 541-997-2961 - Non-Denominational Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for information. Service is on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Sunday Service also streaming live at 10:00 am RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S. at florencechurch.com Worship Services 10am 1st & 2nd Sunday and 8am 3rd & 4th Sunday FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST 85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038 Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16) DVD of Weekly worship service available. 1833 Tamarack Street www.puppro.wixite.com/rlcflorence (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.) Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m. ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH www.churchofchristflorence.org Welcomes you to Worship Services Sunday at 9am and Wednesday at 11am FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH 2135 19th St. – 997-6600 1318 Rhododendron Dr. • 541-997-2523 Reservations Required Call or Email Sunday Service 11am ( Children Sunday School) standrewssecretary19@gmail.com Mid-Week Activities, all ages. Labyrinth & Garden Open Daily 8am - 5pm www.standrewsflorence.org FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST 4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951 SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M. CATHOLIC CHURCH Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M. 1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312 COVID-19 Compliant Masses have been scheduled. FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP Please call our office for details. 87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road RUAUU? All are welcome to explore the answer. Until it is safe to meet in person, Sunday Worship Services are available 24/7 on our website: www.florenceuuf.org FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025 Link to Sunday services at www.florenceunitedmethodist.org or find us on Facebook. Give us a call 541-997-3441 to get us your updates or email to: mberg@thesiuslawnews.com