Pinnacle, at 99th and Parallel in Kansas City, Kan., is a national training center for Sporting KC and USA Soccer. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Sporting KC head coach and technical director Peter Vermes showed off the embodiment of his vision for a state-of-the-art complex for training soccer players, coaches and officials.
The training complex is located on over 50 acres near the intersection of 99th Street and Parallel Avenue in Kansas City, Kan. It features three full-size soccer fields, along with advanced sports training, sports medicine and rehabilitation capabilities. A sports medicine center for Children’s Mercy Hospital is adjoining and will share some facilities.
Named Pinnacle, the complex contains team areas for both Sporting KC and the U.S. national teams. Sporting will use Pinnacle as its primary training location, starting this week when the team is in Kansas City for preseason work. The national teams do not yet have a scheduled date for training at the facility.
Coach licensing courses will begin in March, and nearly 200 advanced coaching students from around the country will be trained there by the end of the year. In addition to their classroom work, coaching students will gain practical experience by working with elite youth teams from the Kansas City area, along with Sporting KC academy players.
USA Soccer officials believe that the hotel, shopping, and entertainment infrastructure in the Legends area will be used by trainees and players and will complement the soccer complex by their proximity.
Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes smiled as he talked about the feeling of walking through the state-of-the-art facility. Visiting players, team owners and national officials have expressed their amazement at the capabilities the complex provides. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Sporting KC veteran defender Graham Zusi joked that the only thing missing in the training center is a dog park. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Coaching classrooms in the training center adjoin and look out over the fields, to combine class and field instruction in near real time. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)One wall of the great hall common area is dedicated to important moments and championships in Sporting KC and national team history. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)The team lounge includes table tennis and billiards tables, as well as a team classroom and a barber shop. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Players can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in the full-service dining area, with all meals prepared on site. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)The Sporting KC locker room is built so that all the locker space folds completely into the walls. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)The “boot room” lies just a few feet off the training field for players to hang their soiled gear. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Rows of exercise equipment are available for players to use in the training facility. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Schlagle senior Tylen Wallace pinned Turner sophomore Joseph Castle in a match in the 285-pound class. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Wyandotte County Championship wrestling tournament was held at Schlagle High School on Saturday. Over 80 wrestlers from the county’s nine high schools took part.
Turner High School won the team championship, placing in 11 of the 14 weight classes. Bonner Springs earned second place, and Schlagle was third.
Turner freshman Cameron Robinson, right, wrestled Travonte Rushing in the 138-pound class. Robinson was behind on points 13-7 and nearly pinned, when he escaped and then pinned Rushing with only two seconds remaining in the second period. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Turner’s Ricardo Yanez, right, upended Harmon’s Juan Lugo in a match for first place in the 182-pound class. Yanez won the match on a pin in the second period. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Schlagle senior Mason Turner, left, wrestled Bonner Springs sophomore Gage Maxwell in the 126-pound class. Turner won the match on a pin in the first period and went on to win the class, while Maxwell placed third. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Turner senior Matthew Hook, right, defeated Bonner Springs freshman Jacob Deichert on a pin in the first period. Hook was undefeated in the tournament and won the 170-pound class. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Bonner Springs freshman Corbin Bell, right, wrestled Sumner freshman Brandon Ladd in the 132-pound class. Bell won the match on points 9-0 and won all five of his matches to take first place in the class. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Bonner Springs freshman Trevor Andrew, right, wrestled Piper freshman Devin Haverfield in the 106-pound class. Andrew won the match on a pin in the first period and took third place in the class. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Wyandotte sophomore Jayro Silvan, right, pulled down Harmon sophomore Sebastian Navarro in their 170-pound match. Navarro won the match on points 8-6. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Piper sophomore Davis Capps, left, wrestled against Harmon sophomore Travonte Rushing in the 138-pound class. Rushing won the match on a pin in the third period. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Schlagle senior Mason Turner took down Washington sophomore Jordan Thompson. Mason won the match on a pin in the first period and went on to take first place in the 126-pound class. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner junior Kim Whetstone (10) attempted a mid-range jump shot in the lane. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Bonner Springs Lady Braves defeated Turner High School 51-29 Friday night in Bonner Springs.
Bonner used accurate entry passes to get layups and short jumpers inside for Hallie Hoffine and Kim Whetstone. On the other end of the court, Turner was not able to get its offense going, passing the ball around the perimeter, but limited by Bonner’s defense from getting inside effectively.
The Lady Braves held the advantage from the start, running out to a 17-8 first quarter lead, and extending it to 30-13 by halftime. With the outcome decided, both coaches looked to build bench experience by substituting generously at the end.
Hoffine led Bonner Springs with 17 points, followed by Whetstone with 15. Turner got 11 points from Lanita McDonald. Three of her four made baskets were from outside the arc. Junior reserve Lillian Hamilton came on in the fourth quarter for Turner and posted 7 points in those limited minutes.
The teams are now tied at 3-4 in the Kaw Valley League standings. The Lady Bears will play next against Bishop Ward on Tuesday at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Bonner Springs will head to Piper on Friday to take on the undefeated Lady Pirates.
Bonner senior Gracie Myers (3) looked for an entry pass from the right side. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Turner junior Megan Johnson (12) took a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Turner sophomore Emily Beery (22) pulled down an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Turner senior Lanita McDonald (23) looked to drive the ball inside. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Bonner freshman Emily Ashford (13) dribbled the ball across the lane. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Bonner junior Hallie Hoffine (11) went for a layup. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)The Bonner Springs student section went with a lumberjack theme for the evening. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Emily Beery went to the basket, defended by Kim Whetstone. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Bonner sophomore Avery Hill (1) attempted a shot over Turner junior Tynica Gilmore (15). (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
