WIAA Girls & 1B/2B Boys State Soccer Championships 2011

For most, this weekend’s forecast of wind, rain, snow and chilly temperatures is less than ideal.  Given the inclement weather, 24 of Washington’s high school soccer teams hope to shine as they vie for state championship hardware at the 2011 WIAA Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires Girls and 1B/2B Boys State Soccer Championships, the penultimate event of the fall tournament season.

On Nov. 18-19, fans will bundle up and brave the conditions to support their schools at three different host venues in the greater-Puget Sound area:  Sunset Chev Stadium, Shoreline Stadium, and Carl Sparks Stadium.

Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner will once again play host for the 1B/2B boys and girls classifications. The stadium’s field is a full 70 yards wide, making it one of the widest stadium fields in the state. The main grandstand can accommodate fans from both schools and provides a great view of the playing field.  The stadium is located near historical downtown Sumner with shopping, restaurants, etc. close by.

Tim Thomsen, Athletic Director of the Sumner School District, will be the Tournament Manager for the tenth consecutive year.  Thomsen is a 1975 graduate of Curtis High School and a 1980 graduate from Pacific Lutheran University where he played basketball. He has been at Sumner since 1980.  Prior to managing State Soccer, Thomsen was a Co-Director of State Golf.

This year, the 1A, 2A girls classifications will move to Shoreline Stadium, a venue that previously hosted State Soccer for much of the 1990’s.  The stadium can hold up to 3,000 spectators.

Taking on the role of Tournament Manager will be Don Dalziel, Athletic Director for the Shoreline School District.  Dalziel is in his eighth year as District Athletic Director, although he has worked within the school district for 20 years now. He has experience in managing tournaments for soccer and track and field for District 1.  Dalziel is a native of the Pacific Northwest, raised in Salem, Oregon, and a graduate of Seattle Pacific University where he competed in track and field. 

Carl Sparks Stadium, located in Puyallup hosted last year’s 1A, 2A Girls State Soccer. This year, the stadium will see action from the 3A and 4A girls classifications.  Recently renovated in 2009-10, Sparks features covering on both sides, and an impressive sound system.  Rick Wells, Athletic Director for the Puyallup School District, will oversee the event as Tournament Manager.  Wells has tallied up three years as Tournament Manager for State Soccer and 36 years in education as a teacher and administrator. Raised in the Puget Sound-area, Wells is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University (BA) and the University of Washington (MA).

Each of the three venues will feature four games per day, all on turf fields, providing semifinal and championship matches for the 24 teams. For more information on the WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires Girls and 1B/2B Boys State Soccer Championships, visit www.wiaa.com   

Sunset Chev Stadium

Shoreline Stadium  

Carl Sparks Stadium