You can certainly say that Marcus High School in Flower Mound, TX is a soccer powerhouse and that has been the case for a long time. The Marcus Marauders are arguably the best in Texas and that is saying a lot. Texas is also home to great programs like Dallas Jesuit and Coppell, both rivals of Marcus HS.
This year the Marauders are again tormenting their opponents thanks to a talented squad. It all starts between the posts with junior goalkeeper Landon Plunkett, who is one of the best shot stoppers in the state. He is 6’4″ with great presence and leadership.
Senior midfielder Daniel Blaney, who has been a starter since his sophomore year, has a great nose for the goal. He is joined in the midfield by junior Jackson Bradford, a starter since his freshman year. Bradford dominates the center of the park with his powerful attitude and can also get the ball down and play.
Senior defender and captain Trace Marshall brings a composed look to the back line along with a smash mouth attitude for ball-winning. He’s grown up a Marauder and is determined to finish his high school career on top of the game.
Sophomore midfielder Adam Baldwin is a player to watch for thanks to his boundless energy and knack for the game. Steve Pondeca, a senior striker and a newcomer to the program, has an incredible amount of pace and ability. He has the potential to be a very dangerous attacker in the team’s dynamic system.
The squad utilizes a high-tempo short passing game within a 4-3-3, using their central players to break down opponents to connect with a lone target and ultimately springing wider players in behind.
But all of the Marauders’ success starts with their leader and head coach John Gall.
Gall is arguably one of the country’s best. Sometimes people throw around this term a lot, but Gall can certainly back it up. The former U-18 Wales National Team player is a five-time District Coach of the Year, Dallas Morning News All-Area Coach of the Year, two-time NSCAA State Coach of the Year, two-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year, and two-time NSCAA National Coach of the Year finalist. Gall is also only the third coach in UIL boys soccer history to win more than one Class 5A State Title and the Marauders are only the second-ever team to win back-to-back Class 5A state titles.
What impressed us the most is what he has done for his players. He guided both Sam Garza and Zach Barnes to Gatorade Texas Boys Soccer Player of the Year honors before they were picked in the MLS SuperDraft. Garza would be selected in the first round (No. 6 overall) in 2012 as a Generation adidas player, while Barnes was chosen by D.C. United in the third round (56th overall) in 2014.
Gall’s work with Garza was truly unprecedented.
“Sammy came in as a talented young freshman, jumping straight into our varsity,” Gall said. “One thing that I’m most proud of is providing him with a true passion and determination to be the best. He was a pleasure to be around as he was so coachable and always wanted more. He absorbed all the information and worked extremely hard to improve on all aspects of his game from his technical abilities, tactical understanding, strength and speed development, and his sheer will to win.”
Over the past 14 years Gall has helped 100 players move on to the collegiate game, the majority of them to NCAA Division I schools. This includes the best of the best like UCSB, SMU, Colgate, Wake Forest, UNC, Tulsa, and Creighton.
Gall’s experience as a professional player certainly plays a big part in the program’s professionalism and success. The USSF “A” licensed coach debuted in the National League of Wales at the tender young age of sixteen in addition to playing for both Luton Town FC and Millwall FC. He would accept a full scholarship offer to Oklahoma City University in 1995 and would earn All-America and Conference MVP honors during his time there. Gall played professionally for the USL’s Texas Toros SC before spending time with the Dallas Burn of MLS.
In 2001, Gall became the head coach at Marcus HS as a twenty-five year old, but he already had wisdom beyond his years. He led the Marauders to a National Championship in 2007 after a perfect 30-0-0 record, back-to-back Class 5A State Championships in 2007 and 2008, five district championships in a row from 2006-2010, and thirteen postseason appearances in thirteen seasons. The Marauders still hold the State of Texas record for consecutive wins (32) and have now appeared in the UIL playoffs for 23 consecutive seasons.
In addition, John Gall has guided three different Dallas Texans teams to consecutive Dallas Classic League Grand Championships and a North Texas State Cup Championship in 2011. He also maintains a presence internationally thanks to serving as the USA Director for Pro Academy Soccer Scout, a professional scouting and recruiting company based in Manchester, England that has already placed over 100 players into professional teams.
The fact that Gall has been so successful is even more impressive thanks to the introduction of the USSF’s developmental academy program. Many players leave their high school program behind in return for year-round club play, but in Texas many players are choosing to stay. This raises the level of play and competitiveness considerably as top players remain in the high school game.
Some argue that high school soccer is a thing of the past, but Gall has definitely proven that is not the case.
“It’s quite simple for me, it’s worked in the past, and it can continue. High school sports is ingrained in American culture and should be part of a young soccer player’s experience. I believe it’s the closest thing that the US youth soccer player can draw on in terms of passionate environmental encounters.”
Every parent would want their child to be coached by Gall, which is about the biggest compliment you can give a coach.
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 with the Shale Soccer Classic Presented by Admiral Sports on July 24-25, 2015.
