Argust Relays Highlight Last Week Before Break

After several weeks of training and conditioning, the Utes are looking forward to spring break next week. However, before the rest begins, conditioning coach Greg Argust set up the 1st Annual Spring Break Conditioning Relays...Held this morning...they have become affectionately known as the Argust Relays.

Captains Kelly Isleib and Emalee Rogers picked teams to start the proceedings. There were 5 events and the losing team would have to run "gassers" as well as clean up after ward!


Team Isleib: Captain Kelly Isleib, Lauren Hair, Chelsea Forbes, Lauren Porter, Shay Kennedy, Nicole Cardon, Kellie Woodfield, Christine Quinn

Team Rogers: Captain Emalee Rogers, Erin Dalley, Hannah Turpen, Morgan Skeen, Anne Shallenberger, Katie Martinez, Mallory Mitamura, Lauren Dudley

Injured: Jen Christoffers


1st Event: Medicine Ball Relay - Team Isleib Runs Away with it Running 25 yards and back with a heavy medicine ball...and Team Isleib quickly took a 1-0 lead. See the action below




2nd Event: Sliding the Plank Relay - Team Isleib Goes Up 2-0
Pushing a plank board over 50 yards seemed to favor the smaller Team Isleib...some of the taller players had a hard time with "staying low".

















3rd Event: Bag Relay - Team Rogers on the Comeback in a Killer Event
Okay, the height paid off in the next event...admittedly a tough one, especially on the quads...Team Rogers was able to pull the heavy bags and fought back to make it 2-1...Check it out below...NOT EASY!



See the agony as Hannah Turpen and Erin Dalley try to recover from the Bag Pull!




Event 4: Farmer's Walk - Team Isleib Clinches the Title
Pulling two heavy plates over 50 yards...very difficult on the hands and fingers...walking fast (no running allowed)...and Team Isleib won a close race to clinch the best of 5 title...



















Event 5: Tug of War - Team Rogers Shows Some Pride
Already faced with the task of running "gassers", Team Rogers showed some pride by taking the Tug of War to make the final talley 3-2....It seems the Team Isleib, with the title already in hand was unable to push through the pain much....and didn't show the killer instinct. See the action below!

Kobe Bryant....Soccer Fan?

This news comes courtesy of the Los Angeles Times...Kobe Bryant flew by helicopter yesterday after Lakers practice to the Home Depot Center to meet and visit with members of the Los Angeles Sol of the new WPS....

Specifically, he wanted to meet Brazilian superstar, Marta, of whom he is a great fan.

Kobe grew up in Italy as his father was playing professional basketball there. He is a big fan of Barcelona....and loves Marta' s creative style.

Check out the article in the L.A. Times.

WPS Season Drawing Nearer

The Womens Professional Soccer League (WPS) is getting ready for its inaugural season. Teams started preseason training camp last Sunday and the opening match is scheduled for Sunday, March 29 as the Los Angeles Sol (with World Player of the Year, Marta) will host Abbie Wambach and the Washington Freedom at the Home Depot Center in California. That game and others will be shown on Fox Soccer Channel.


Seven teams will participate this year: Los Angeles Sol, FC Gold Pride (Santa Clara, CA), Boston Breakers, Washington Freedom, St. Louis Atletica, Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue FC (New Jersey). Teams from Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia will join the league next year.

There is lots to talk about, but of course we are pretty shallow here, so we'll start with the uniform unveiling that was held in February in New York...the Puma uniforms look nice and all, but nothing out of the ordinary...However, we are not sure about what Puma is calling the "wrap"...somewhat of a skirt that can be worn during warm-ups supposedly. We'll see if that goes the way of the bell bottoms, alligator shirts and mullet hair cuts...


Click Here for a Brief Video of the Uniform "Fashion Show"

You can also find out more information at the WPS OFFICIAL WEB SITE

Breaking News: Kelly to Retire From Soccer

Well, you are hearing it first...we pride ourselves in having the latest news from Ute Soccer...and this is a News Flash of the highest order...Junior Ute midfielder, Kelly Isleib, is retiring from soccer effective immediately.

Kelly won the U of U Bowling tournament (her exact scores are a bit cloudy...we're double-checking our sources...however, she has hired an agent and will join the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) for this week's event at the Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator Series in Columbus, Ohio. Hopefully, we will be able to see her on ESPN in the finals this weekend.

While we are said to see her leave, we wish Kelly the best! Good luck, Kelly!

Soccer Fans Can Be Cruel

Courtesy of Soccer America...we were pointed in the direction of the Dutch First Division (called the Eredivsie)...where traditional power Ajax was hosting FC Volendam, the last place team. Apparently, the Volendam goal keeper, Joeren Verhoeven, was a bit "portly" looking for the Ajax fans' taste...

Poor guy, his team is in last place. He has given up a league high of 60 goals in just 25 games...and now he has tens of thousands of fans yelling...."Ooooooohhhhh Pizza" every time he takes a kick...painful...

Click here to see the spectacle

Sunday Games Provide Great Drama and Lessons

We've been working on finishing quite a bit and, as always, there were some great goals scored over the weekend....dramatic games and incredible skills on display from all over the world. A couple of games we'd like to mention...

First, Barcelona went to Madrid to play Atletico Madrid...a 4-3 Clasico in favor of the home team, with two late goals...this has it all...Henry and Messi for Barcelona....Forlan and Aguero for Atletico... Goals from great strikes...great dribbling...beating an offsides trap...from a goalie punt...PK's...1-2 in the box...wow!

Click here to check it out for yourself (Barca in yellow- Atletico in red & white stripes)

Also, from the EPL, Aston Villa vs. Stoke....Villa is in 4th place (ahead of Arsenal) and Stoke WAY down low and trying to avoid relegation...2-0 to Villa late and with two lightning bolts...Stoke fights their way to a draw...incredible! I guess it's a lesson to never give up...

KMart and Anne Coming Back Strong

We've mentioned a few times that we have several players in the process of "comebacks". Our injured ladies are at various stages of their rehabilitation. So far, much progress has been made. Two freshmen, Katie Martinez and Anne Shallenberger have had surgery to repair what is called compartment syndrome. The procedure is called a fasciotomy.

Katie and Anne are well on the way to full recovery and you can hear for yourself on this video.
We're glad to know they will both be back on the field for our spring season!