Another Pilot Recruit!!!

Hey guys... just saw this article from the West Linn Tidings, my second-favorite suburban community newspaper (behind the Clackamas Review, of course)!

http://www.westlinntidings.com/sports/story.php?story_id=119446717139953400

The Pilots have a verbal from Taylor Brooke, a junior at West Linn high school who was just voted the conference player of the year despite her team finishing fifth. If you know anything about how political the end-of-the-year awards are in high school sports (it's extremely rare for a POY or COY to come from a team that didn't win the title), you know how much she must be respected as a player. Choice quote:

The speedy forward is arguably the quickest player in the league and perhaps the entire state and she has a knack for getting off shots in heavy traffic.

During her three years at West Linn, Brooke has played all over the field but she is most dangerous up top where she can best utilize her speed.

“I like playing up top so that I can make long runs but really anywhere on the field is fine with me,” Brooke said.

Despite her diminutive frame, Brooke has one of the stronger legs on the team and has become of its tougher players since a common strategy to defend her has been to simply knock her off the ball.

Opposing teams would often double-team her throughout the season but that failed to bother her.

And, of course, she grew up watching the Pilots and wants to play here:

Although she is still early in her junior year, Brooke has already committed to play soccer at the University of Portland starting in 2009.

The program is one of the nation’s best in women’s soccer and very few Oregon high school players have the opportunity to be a Pilot.

“I’m really excited for 2009. I grew up watching (the Pilots) and they have a fast-paced team which I like,” Brooke said.

Welcome Taylor!!!

Great job again, Stonehouse! Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Taylor
Brooke our first known verbal commit for 2009? All the other recruits we have discussed I believe were 2008 recruits.

Welcome Taylor. We love speedy players and your enthusiasm for playing at UP is really important. Great job by Garrett and his crew for locking up another local talent.

Congratulations Taylor! Looking forward to seeing you in a Pilots' uniform in 2009!

Wow!

Way to keep alert, Stoney. I'm still thinking about the 2008 recruits, and you've started on the 2009 class.

I think this might be the earliest I've ever seen a UP recruit go Public.

She seems like a great catch for UP, and It's nice to see a local player in love with the UP program like the rest of us.

Welcome Taylor!!


and....

Go Pilots!!!

Wow. I can't believe Taylor is going to UP. I'm thrilled for her, and next time I see her I'm going to have to rough her up a little bit for not letting me know.

I will tell you, Taylor is not only a great player, but a fantastic kid. She is a model team player, a quick and astute learner, and someone who always finds a way to contribute on and off the field. I don't think I could run out of great things to say about her AND her family, and I'm thrilled they are the latest addition to the UP family.

Wonderful to hear, KFTC. Exactly the kind of talent plus the all-important human being that Pilots' fans have come to know and expect. The great person part is so important to me and continues the exceptional chemistry that is such a critical part of this program.

Whoever said "Nice guys finish last" was a knucklehead who obviously was too lazy to look hard enough to find the extremely good people out there who just so happen to be superior talents. Great chemistry and great character are hallmarks of great organizations. (That goes beyond athletics and includes all walks of life.)