Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Sports at a Glance

All stories by Jean Schurman

Kaiam Syester selected for Olympic Development Program

Hamilton Elks Hoop Shoot

Kaiam Syester selected for Olympic Development Program Kaiam Syester of Stevensville has been selected to participate in the Montana Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. Syester is an eighth grade student at Corvallis Middle School. He was born and raised in the Stevensville area and attended Lone Rock School until the fifth grade. The Montana Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a national program. It is designed to identify and develop young soccer players who are dedicated to the game of soccer. They represent the state at various national and regional tournaments as well as train with regional staff and coaches. Montana, Alaska, Arizona, Cal-North, Cal-South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming make up Region IV. About 400 players are selected for the camp and from these, 40 will be chosen for the Region IV team.

Ric Plante, director of the Montana ODP, Kaiam Syester, and Hunter Terry, coach for the 12-13 age group at the practice session in Belgrade. Diana Syester photo.

Syester has played soccer for the Stevensville Sabres since he was nine and will begin his fifth season for them this spring. He also participates in fall soccer. He has attended the David Beckham Academy in Los Angeles for the past two years. According to his mother, Diana Syester, he loves the game of soccer and hopes to play professionally one day.

Being selected for the Montana ODP is a step towards that future. He tried out the first weekend in November in Helena. Boys and girls between the ages of 11 to 16 were eligible to participate. Athletes from across Montana competed for this chance. Because Syester is left-footed and left handed, he is a huge asset to any team.

Their first practice session was the weekend before Christmas in Belgrade at the Special Events Center. These practices will continue throughout the winter. At that time, select players will advance to tournaments.

Hamilton Elks Hoop Shoot district winners at Pablo December 5th were (left to right): Jack Batisti, Stevensville (4nd place 8-9 yrs); Jase Omlid, Stevensville (2nd place 12-13 yrs); Hunter Omlid, Hamilton (2nd place 10-11 yrs); Calia Holdorson, Hamilton (1st place 8-9 yrs); Keely Ehmann, Darby (1st place 12-13 yrs). First place winners will compete February 8, 2010 in Livingston.