Soccer title caps record year for BEClass AA Boys Championship By Philip M. Bowman (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Alan Hawes Bishop England's Jorge Villamazar tries to beat Emerald's Hunter Riddle to the ball during the class 2A boys championship soccer match in Columbia Saturday Photo GalleryBoys Soccer Championships Bishop England faced Emerald and Academic Magnet battled Christ Church for the boys state soccer championships in Columbia Saturday.
COLUMBIA — Bishop England High School concluded its most successful athletics year in the institution's 93-year history with a 4-0 victory over Emerald Saturday in the boys' Class AA state soccer championship at the University of South Carolina's Stone Stadium. The victory gave the Bishops seven team state championships for the 2007-08 year. 'The competition is always great,' senior defender Alvin Hooper said. 'We had to come out and win today because that's the tradition at Bishop England: to come to the state championship, win it and bring it home. We don't feel pressure when our other teams win. When the other sports (teams) win, it puts us in a good position to win because it boosts our confidence.' Said senior defender Hunter Wilson: 'It's hard to defend your title because everyone else is hungry, coming after you to take it from you. You have to defend your name, keep that No. 1 ranking.' Saturday's victory gave the Bishops their 13th state title in boys' soccer. Only six other schools in the nation have won more state soccer championships than the Bishops. One of those schools is Irmo, which has 15 state titles. 'Our job as coaches is to keep that momentum going,' said coach Ed Khouri, who has led the Bishops to 10 state titles since 1994. 'The mental preparation is critical. These modern kids today, there's a lot of distractions so we have to think up something new every time to motivate them. We have let them know what time it is, meaning the position they are in to make history. I always tell them, ‘You're a man. You are born a man-child, and you were born to make history and break history.' ' There was little suspense as the Bishops dominated from the opening minutes and held a commanding 24-1 advantage in shots. Sophomore midfielder Joseph Santos scored in the seventh minute to make it 1-0. Santos assisted Jorge Villamizar's goal in the 14th minute to make it 2-0. The Bishops had nine shots in the first half, while the Vikings managed only one. Senior David LeBlanc scored on an assist from Eric Rastogi in the 48th minute to make it 3-0. George Khoury scored to make it 4-0 in the 61st minute. The Bishops have won four straight titles, and three of those have come against the Vikings. Bishop England ended the season with a 17-5-2 record, while Emerald checked out at 16-7-1. 'Four in a row, I'm really happy for the other guys,' Wilson said. 'It was supposed to be a rebuilding year and we won 4-0. Everything is good.' Khouri said the school's administration is the reason the Bishops are successful in so many sports. 'Bishop England gives you the platform to play the best competition, no matter where they are located. We play the best competition and that benefits our program. The guys before me built it and the people who come after me will continue that success.' |
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Comments
This article has 17 comment(s)
Posted by Fairness on May 18, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First, I congratulate the Bishop England players and coaches.
I do question the fact that BE is a private school playing in a predominately public school league at an equal enrollment level.
Is it BE's fault?
NO!! BE plays in the class that they are assigned to by the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL).
The SCHSL does need to investigate how other states treat private schools after such a history of domination in so many spring sports by Bishop England. Please look at BE's athletic record in the last decade; go no further than this article, and the article in Saturday morning's Post and Courier.
I believe that our neighboring states have different policies in determining similar classification scenarios. In Georgia, private school total general enrollment is multiplied by 1.5 to determine what class they should compete in. Theoretically, if Bishop England's total 9-12 grade enrollment is 920. They would be considered to have an enrollment of 1380 in Georgia. That would equal to a high AAA or low AAAA classification school in South Carolina. In North Carolina, private schools automatically play up a class.
Bishop England would win championships in a higher classification. I have no doubt.
With BE as a AA school, is it really fair to all the other AA public high schools in the state that are restricted to specific school enrollment lines for enrollment?
With such domination for such a period of time by Bishop England in so many sports, I think the answer is no.
Other states think the answer is NO too according to how their policy is written.
After such domination wouldn't Bishop England want more of a challenge by moving up?
Posted by MSC on May 18, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like their recruiting is really paying off. Would love to bring them down to earth a little while competing in AAAA.
Posted by JRob on May 18, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Any evidence of recruiting MSC? Didn't think so. Recruiting has really helped BE excel in football and basketball. In any event, the Bishops do pretty well in the spring sports against the top AAAA schools in the area.
Posted by Fairness on May 18, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seriously, I don't know, do athletes get tuition assistance to attend Bishop England?
Posted by JRob on May 18, 2008 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe there are ways for athletes and non-athletes to get assistance.
Posted by sbs920 on May 19, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fainess. . .
JRob. . .
it does go on. .
my child has been approached by BE "people" about playing for them. Offers of reduced rates to attend is the "hook".
Several of our better softball players have been approached too. They use the "Bridge" soccer program to recruit as well. They don't seem to be very effective in football and basketball I agree. I would love to see how they would do in AAA.
Posted by idunno456 on May 19, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1. financial assistance is given based on financial need.
2. Our administration is far more concerned with our academics than they are with our athletic ability.
3. We would be just fine to compete in AAA.
4. Most of the athletes that go to our school go there because they are catholic; their parents, and their parents' parents went to Bishop England. Many knew they would attend Bishop England before they even started playing soccer or any other sport.
5. We do compete against AAAA schools; sometimes we lose, most of the time we don't.
Posted by hblittl on May 19, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SO since I played for BE and Bridge soccer maybe I might know a little on this subject.never was recruited and dont know anyone who has been. On Bridge i also played with kids from Pinewood(SCISA),Wando(4a), Academic Magnet and Lincoln(both 1a),and North Myrtle Beach(3a) showing that there is talent no matter what level you play at. And as for dominance most be soccer players play year round and even go to camps in the summer. It is not so much about dominance as it is about dedication and love for the game. And why is the onus for us always to add the mutiplier rule. Every year in the playoffs other teams would run their mouths talking about how they were going to kill our team. And if BE does leave 2a does that make the following years state champion a real winner. Its like golf some players don't consider it a win unless Tiger Woods is there. There is talent on other teams. But for me it just seems like they are always worried about other things, like media banter, when we are focusing on fitness training and ball skills.
Posted by sbs920 on May 19, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow!
looks like I woke up the little green machine . . .
"1. financial assistance is given based on financial need."
even more if you can run faster or kick a ball better huh?
Recruiting: plain and simple
just ask McKissick, he wrote the book. . .
Even political beauracy involved over attendence zones. . .
remember that one my little bishops. . .
And I guess my child or our softball players where never appoached. . . Hmmmm I must be halucinating again. . .
my bad. . .
Posted by hblittl on May 19, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Haha I didn't say you weren't. Frankly I hope she does go to BE, but not for just athletics but because it is a really good school that does prepare you for college significantly. I'm glad you read what i wrote and good luck to your daughter wherever she goes to play softball because she sounds good. But relax we are just kids playing a game that we love deeply. The best players are in love with that ball they kick around all day and can't wait to go touch it everyday after school for practice. I love helping young kids with soccer moves and playing games with them. But if you feel it is essential to move BE higher up than that is your opinion. Don't worry about winning or losing so much, but instead make sure your kid loves to play the game because that is all that matter is that everyone has a fun time and plays with passion and desire.
Posted by charleston_grown on May 19, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sbs, everything is a conspiracy or cheating with you. you crack me up
Posted by JRob on May 19, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SBS,
I think you mean "bureaucracy," "attendance," "were," "approached," and "hallucinating." Also McKissick is at Summerville.
Posted by sbs920 on May 19, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NOoooooo Waaaayyyy
JRob you are alot smarter than you look !
of course McKissick is at Summerville you idiot!
did i spell that right jackass !
Posted by JRob on May 19, 2008 at 11:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I'm attacked for trying to be accurate.
You seem a little immature to be the parent of a child who is high school age or older.
I think I proved my point.
Posted by sbs920 on May 20, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
key word "trying"
the only point you have is on your head, numbnuts. . .
please check my spelling jrobbed
Posted by hblittl on May 20, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't "keyword" one word haha sorry I thought it was funny
Posted by MSC on May 25, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not recruiting in the traditional sense where a coach would sit in a parents living room and go over the pros and cons of attending BE. I'd love to give examples if asked. It has been several days, so I'm not even sure if this is still a topic.