“There are no days off at Parkersburg High School when it comes to soccer. We work hard, day in and day out.”
Those are the words spoken by attacking midfielder and senior captain Matt Powney when asked about his high school program, one that is ranked 17th nationally in a recent NSCAA poll for boys soccer.
It’s obvious that the hard work has paid off with a national spotlight now on the West Virginia district. Attention is nothing new as the program has sent over 100 players to the college ranks and even one, Zak Boggs, to MLS.
This is in addition to the hardware the district has acquired over the years, including six state titles for soccer. Locals call them “The School of Champions” as at least one team wins the state championship each year. Last year it was the track and field team, while the wrestling and girls volleyball are perennial favorites in the state tourney.
College coaches, whether they be from Division I or Division III schools, love players from Parkersburg HS. The players are known for playing the game the right way and college coaches know what they are getting when they offer a scholarship or playing time.
Sometimes those players make it to the highest level of the game. Take Boggs for example. He spent three seasons with the New England Revolution before accepting a Fulbright Scholarship to study in the UK. He would return to the States, recently playing with USL PRO side Charlotte Eagles.
Head Coach Don Fosselman has been the only coach in the program’s history, having held the top spot for 27 years. What he has built is a highly competitive year-round program that is the envy of many in the Midwest. Fosselman’s commitment to the beautiful game is evident from the moment you meet him and he expects that same kind of commitment from his players.
Fosselman is a players’ coach, one that turns athletes into soccer players and young men into leaders. His players raved about his ability to lead, innovate, and teach.
“He really knows how to inspire us,” captain Hunter Hill stated.
Fosselman’s players participate in a highly structured lifting and conditioning program in addition to playing high-level indoor and outdoor youth soccer. He readily admits that leading this team is a huge honor, but it is a lot of work for the coaching staff and players. Maintaining the status quo is not good enough as they strive for excellence and growth season after season.
“I come back and visit the PHS soccer program whenever I get the chance,” Boggs added. “Coach Fosselman has built a dynasty that fosters tradition. Upon entering the locker room you are greeted by pictures of former Big Red All-State and All-American players and pictures of state champion teams. Player and team accolades are displayed for all to see and for current players to aspire to. So the challenge is clear and every season the team goal is nothing less than a state championship.”
Many players leave the Parkersburg area to find even better competition on the club scene, traveling to Morgantown or even crossing the Ohio border to play in Marietta or Columbus.
Parkersburg HS seeks out the best competition when it comes to their high school program, playing in Wheeling, Beckley, Martinsburg, and Charleston. This is in addition to exhibition matches against Ohio schools in Cleveland and Columbus.
The end result of the year-round training and high-level competition is a soccer dynasty, something that the likes of West Virginia have never seen before.
The 2014 squad is a goal scoring machine, one that is likely to beat the program’s all-time record of 135 goals in a season. The attack is led by senior forward Tommy Logston (35 goals, 14 assists), Powney (18 goals, 12 assists), and sophomore forward Immanuel Opuka-Duah (15 goals, 4 assists). The defense is led by Hill, who even contributed eight goals and seven assists from his defensive midfielder position.
A strong possession game coupled with a deadly attack makes Parkersburg a force on the pitch, but it is what happens off it that really defines them in terms of innovation.
Fosselman is always learning and look for an edge. Recently he created a leadership team for his squad. Each of the eight players is a starter and “elected” by their teammates. They help deal with issues that come up within the team and lead the way, serving as mentors and role models for others to follow. This program has worked with teams across the country with Parkersburg serving as a prime example.
All of this talent and commitment has made Parkersburg HS one of the nation’s best, certainly deserving of a place in the ISN Ultimate 11. Yet another honor and recognition for a great program full of great players and coaches.
The ISN Ultimate 11 began as an effort to recognize the very best of high school soccer, a side of the game often neglected by the national media. That is certainly no longer the case as ISN leads the way in promoting the game at this level, honoring the young men and women that are the future of the sport.
Promotion of the ISN Ultimate XI will culminate in a major multi-state event in the summer of 2015.
