Lauren Verbosky - Wendy's High School Heisman Winner!

Life time Valrico Fury team member and anchor to the Fury Defense (Lauren Verbosky) takes home Florida's most prestigious academic/athletic award, the Wendy's High School Heisman.

Since 1994, Wendy’s has recognized high school students’ academic, athletic, community and leadership accomplishments. One male and one female from each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. win the award. By Nov. 26 twelve finalists are chosen from six ­regions and travel to New York City. Activities include an awards banquet, telecasted by ESPN on Dec. 14, where the national male and female winner is chosen.
Verbosky’s accomplishments include Senior Class President, volleyball, soccer, and track. She is also in a very tight race with two other students for the East Bay Class of 2009 Valedictorian.  Congratulations!

 

Team Member Futures

After 10 years of being one the Most Successful Girls Soccer Team's in Florida in our age group, we have had some tremendous talent on our team over the years.  Some of the older players are already playing College Soccer and some of the younger ones are signing their college letter of intent's today (2/4/09).  Below are a list of team members over the past few years and what's next in their life.  Best of luck to all of them!

Players who will be playing college soccer are denoted with an *

Class of 2008

• Rodriguez, Rudi - Troy University *
• Powers, Stephanie - Florida Gulf Coast University *
• Schock, Brandi - Tennessee Temple University *

Class of 2009

• Bala, Kayla - University of Florida *
• Brownfield, Samantha - Nova South Eastern University *
• Cabot, Elisa (Wizzo) - Nova South Eastern University *
• Cate, Ana - Auburn University *
• Davison, Nancy - University of Florida
• Denmark-Richardson, Dominique (Nikki) - Grambling State *
• Dunn, Stephanie - Florida Atlantic University
• Ellwood, Ashley - University of Florida
• Evers, Ashley - University of South Florida *
• Gainey, Nicole - University of South Florida *
• Graham, Kendall - University of Florida *
• Griffin, Allison - University of South Florida *
• Jewell, Tishia - University of Central Florida *
• Lavigne, Caitlin - University of Central Florida
• Lott, Andrea - St. Leo University *
• Miranda, Erika - Florida Atlantic University
• Primiano, Shannah - Florida State University
• Rankin, Lindsey - University of Florida
• Sandora, Rachel - HCC / St. Pete College
• Schwartz, Susan - Florida Gulf Coast University *
• Simpson, Samantha - University of Central Florida
• Verbosky, Lauren - University of Florida
• Wall, Megan - University of Central Florida

Class of 2010

• Johnson, Jordan - Florida State University *

Players with Unknown Status as of 05/19/09

Some of the players have moved on to other States or dropped out of Soccer completely.  Other more current players still haven't made their minds up on where they want to go.  If you fit into either of those categories, please feel free to drop me a line (BenDeBrocke@Gmail.com) so I can update your status.

• Carey, Allissa
• Ferreiro, Amber
• Gentile, Haley
• Graus, Brianna
• Hennelly, Kelly
• Herrera, Aileen
• Hipp, Tess
• Kaplan, Katie
• Kellam, Emily
• Latulip, Stephanie
• Mellichamp, Devon
• Oliva, Shelby
• Patterson, Tyler
• Short, Spencer
• Stephens, Deanna
• Wicker, Kate

 

The End is Here

After 10 years (1999-2009) when this team was originally put together as the Brandon FC Tempest (U9 Competitive team playing up in U10), the Journey has finally come to an End.  The Valrico Fury will not have a team for the 2008-2009 U-18 Soccer season.

As mentioned above, the team was originally formed as a U9 Competitive team that played up in the U10 age group to get some experience.  That original team had 3 players on it that would remain essentially life time team members.  Two of the players (Ashley Evers and Rudi Rodriguez) were Life Time Team members and the remaining third palyer (Nancy Davison) took a slight detour one year but came back to the team. 

After that original U9 team got their experience from playing up in U10, it was clear that the strongest players were the U9 ones in that group and we decided to take those core players and play at their own age group the next year and put together a strong U10 competitive team for Brandon FC.  That year, Brandon's Director of Coaching decided to start using a universal Team Naming System, so our team became known as the Brandon FC 90 Blue for the next few years.

In 2003, a new Director of Coaching took over in Brandon and the team decided to try something different by taking some of the best players on Brandon FC and merging with some of the best players on Palm Bay Fury, the team we met in the State Final 4 the year prior, thus forming the "Brandon FC Fury".

After a year with that name, the club once again hired a new Director of Coaching who wanted to change the naming structure again and in our U14 season, we became known as the Brandon FC Flames. 

After a few issues and disagreements with Board Members at Brandon FC, the team decided to move on and find a new home.  It wasn't much of a drive and we found our new and final home just down the street at Valrico.  The remaining years (U-15, 16 & 17) we would finish playing as the Valrico Fury.

 

Kayla Bala Named High School All American

Long Time Team Member Kayla Bala was recently named to the 2008 High School All American Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. 

George Jenkins players and officials honored Bala, a senior midfielder, during a ceremony at the school Wednesday morning for her selection as a 2008 National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American. She is one of 73 players from across the county receiving the honor, and one of only four from Florida.

Bala plans to sign with the University of Florida in February. She said the team had a fun atmosphere around it when she visited her junior year, and she knew when she got to the campus that was where she wanted to go to college.

 

2007-2008 State Finalist

CONGRATULATIONS to the Fury Girls once again for making it to the 5th Final 4 in 7 years.  Unfortunately they were a minute away from being the first Region C State Champions in their age group. 

The fury advanced to the Finals after defeating a strong parkland team (1-0 in Double Overtime)  who was in their 5th straight year of the Final 4.

Then they faced cross-town rivals RSL in the State Finals, finally assuring a Region C team will finally capture a State Championship in this age group.  But, after scoring about 20 minutes in to go up 1-0, RSL continued to fight and equalized the game with under a minute to go in regulation.  Then after 2 over times, the State Championship was going to be decided by Penalty Kicks.  After the first group of 5 kickers, the match up was still tied. Finally on the 6th kick, Valrico missed their chance and RSL scored, clinching them State Championship.  Great Job to all the Girls!

 

Rudi Rodriguez - Signs with Division 1 Troy University Trojans on National Signing Day
(02/06/08)
 

CONGRATULATIONS to Rudi Rodriguez for signing a FULL Soccer Scholarship to Division 1 Troy University in Alabama on National Signing Day.  Rudi anchors the Valrico Fury defense at Sweeper and as the oldest player, she is the only Senior on the Valrico Fury roster and the first one to sign a scholarship.  Rudi is also 1 of 2 original team members still left on the team from the original Under 9 Brandon FC Spirit that played up in U10 in the 1999-2000 season. Rudi will be joining 8 other freshman from Texas, Georgia, Missouri, and Alabama next year.  Troy University Press Release Great Job Rudi!

Rudi Signing her Scholarship with fellow parents and coaches.  Left To Right:  (Fury Coach Ben DeBrocke, Former Newsome Coach Kathy Dodd, Kim Rodriguez (Mom), Bob Rodriguez (Dad), Current Newsome Coach Kelly Townsend, Fury Coach Ali Laassel).

Fellow Fury Team Members at Newsome HS that was given permission to  miss class in order to attend Rudi's signing ceremony.  From Left To Right:  (Ashley Evers, Kelly Hennelly, Rudi Rodriguez, Samantha Simpson, Kendall Graham).

Rudi Rodriguez Named 2007-08 Hillsborough County High School player of the Year and to Senior All Star Game!

To cap off her Senior year in High School, Rudi Rodriguez was named to play in the Senior All Star Game and won 2 additional scholarships along with capturing the Jose Alvarez Award for the Hillsborough County Player of the Year!  Great Job Rudi!

TBO Article

Jordan Johnson Called to US Region 3 Squad & National Team Camp

For the 5th year in a row, the Valrico Fury places another player on the USYSA Region 3 ODP Team.  Jordan Johnson (1992) following in the foot steps of  Kayla Bala (1991), Ana Cate (1991) was called up to the (1992) Region 3 Team to compete in the ODP Inter Regional Event over Thanksgiving.  Because of Jordan's performance in the Inter Regional, she was also called up the National Team Camp and Inter Regional in California.  Great Job Jordan!

Fury Team Members face off in High School for 5A State Championship.

Just like last year, fellow Fury Team Members must face each other in order to advance to the FHSAA State Championship.

First, Bloomingdale Teammates (Nancy Davison, Jordan Johnson, Aileen Herrera, Cailin Lavigne, Susan Schwartz) had to face Newsome Teammates (Ashley Evers, Kendall Graham, Kelly Hennelly, Rudi Rodriguez, Samantha Simpson) again  in the Regional Semi-Finals after Bloomingdale defeated Newsome in the District Championship a few weeks ago.  This time, the results would be different and Newsome would knock off Bloomingdale and earn a spot in the Regional Final. 

Except, in the Regional Final, Newsome Teammates (Ashley Evers, Kendall Graham, Kelly Hennelly, Rudi Rodriguez, Samantha Simpson) would now have to face George Jenkins HS teammate (Kayla Bala) who led her team with a 2-0 win over Winter Haven to earn a spot in the Regional Final.  This year, instead of Newsome getting the upper hand, Kayla's George Jenkins would pull the upset in a close game with a 3-2 victory to advance to the State Finals. 

Just like last year, instead of Newsome, it will be another Fury Team Member (Kayla Bala) and her George Jenkins High School fighting for the right to possibly meet fellow Fury Team Member (Allison Griffin) from Satellite High in the State Finals. 

Fury Return to the FINAL 4!

The Fury will once again return to the State Final 4.  Earning a spot for the 4th time in 6 years after defeating Countryside (1-0) in the Elite 8 Round and Inter-United (7-1) in the Sweet 16 Round.  Despite only having 11 players for the match due to prior injuries, the Fury found a way to pull it off.

The team will be heading to Ft. Myers Saturday May 19 to take on fellow Region C opponent Tampa Knights.  The winner of the match will face the winner of the Parkland / Clay County Semi-Final in the State Finals that Sunday May 20.  Good Luck to All Teams involved.

The Fury's road to the Final 4 included 2 wins in group play to earn a spot in the Sweet 16.  They defeated FC America (5-1) and Wellington (3-1), avenging their only loss to a Florida Opponent this year.

 

Fury GK Kendall Graham named Hillsborough County 2006-07 High School Player of the Year!

Congratulations to the Fury's Goalkeeper (Kendall Graham) for receiving the Hillsborough County Player of the Year Award for Women's Soccer as a Sophomore at Newsome High!

 

Fury Playing in Florida College Showcases

The Fury has made the rounds playing in front of all the Top Florida College Schools showcasing their players in front of USF, UF, FSU, UCF and all the major schools, including private tours, Q&A sessions with the coaches, Private Training Sessions and etc. 

 

Fury Capture Spring Classic at Dallas Cup (Dallas, TX)!

Once again the Fury was on the road, this time for a trip to Texas to play in the Spring Classic at Dallas Cup College Showcase.  Yet again, the Fury came home Champions knocking out National Ranked teams from Texas (D'Feeters (2-1) & TSC Challenge (2-0)) along with a (5-2) over HFC Rhein from Okalahoma.

 

Fury Capture Vulcan Cup (Birmingham, AL)!

After coming home last year from the Vulcan Cup with a 2-1 loss in the Finals, the Fury were determined not to fall short again in Alabama.  They outscored their opponents 6-3, before having to win the tournament in a Penalty Kick Shootout against the Alabama State Finalist and 3 time State Champions.

 

Fury Capture Germantown Invitational (Memphis, TN)!

The Fury swept through Memphis and captured the Germantown College Showcase Invitational by outscoring opponents 13-0 with an impressive 5-0 Win in the Finals in front of tons of South Eastern College Coaches.

 

Fury Undefeated at WAGS (Washington DC)!

After missing WAGS for a few years, the Fury got accepted and didn't want to disappoint.  Unfortunately, the weather had other plans.  With pouring rains and horrible field conditions, WAGS had to cancel most of the games.  But, our grouping was fortunate enough to get 2 of our 3 group games in and the Fury won Both upsetting a tough Bethesda Team (2-1) from Maryland and a tough Hershey team (2-0)  from Pennsylvania racking up enough points to win our group and earn a spot in the Semi-Finals.  But the weather ended any hopes of capturing the title.

 

Fury Team Members Win 5A State Championship & FHSAA Player MVP!

Fury Offensive players & Sophomores (Allison Griffin & Tishia Jewell) led Satellite HS past the defending State Champions, Palm Harbor University, by a score of 3-0 in order to capture their first High School State Championship.  Just like all season long, Fury players played a key role in the match, even bringing home the Florida 5A MVP Award.

Tishia Jewell scored 2 goals and Fury teammate Allison Griffin had all 3 assists in order to claim the Championship with Tishia Jewell finishing the season with 38 goals under her belt and Allison Griffin with 39 goals for the #3 ranked team in the Country.

Great Job Ladies!

Satellite v PHU - Florida Today

Satellite v PHU - St Pete Times

Tishia Jewell - MVP
 

Offense Takes Defense

Fury Offensive players (Allison Griffin & Tishia Jewell) led Satellite HS past Newsome HS and the Fury Defenders (GK Kendall Graham, Ashley Evers, Rudi Rodriguez & Samantha Simpson) along with fellow Fury Forward (Ana Cate) in the State Semi-Final with a 3-0 Win.  Allison Griffin netted a goal and assist along with Fury teammate Tishia Jewell who scored the third goal to lead Satellite past a tough defense.  But, it didn't come easy with Fury Keeper Kendall Graham coming up big several times to hold them off.  Kendall played well enough to win the State Farm Good Neighbor Sports Award for the match.  Great Job ladies! 

Pictures

Satellite v Newsome Article
 

7 Fury Players Face Off in State Final 4
(Fury Offense vs Fury Defense)
02/04/07

Newsome & Satellite High School each won their HS Regional Championships and will now face off against each other in the State Semi-Final to see who gets to play in the 5A Championship Game.  Satellite's offense is led by two leading scorers and Fury Forwards (Allison Griffin & Tishia Jewell).  The high power offense of Satellite will now take on Newsome HS which is led by the TOUGH Fury Defense (GK Kendall Graham, Ashley Evers, Rudi Rodriguez & Samantha Simpson) along with fellow Fury Forward (Ana Cate) to see who comes out on top.  No one has been able to stop the National Ranked Offense in the playoffs and no one has been able to score on the tough Newsome Defense (including two Penalty Kick Shootouts).  We will find out who comes out on top Thursday Night down in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Either way, at least 2 Fury Team Members are guaranteed a shot at the High School State Title.
 

7 Fury Players are High School Regional Champions
02/03/07

Newsome High School, led by 5 Fury Players (Rudi Rodriguez, Kendall Graham, Ana Cate, Ashley Evers, and Samantha Simpson) won the HS Regional Championship after heading to Penalty Kicks and knocking out fellow teammate (Nancy Davison) Bloomingdale HS.  On the way to the HS Regional Finals, they also knocked out fellow teammate (Kayla Bala's) George Jenkins HS team in order to face Bloomingdale.

Newsome v Bloomingdale Article

Satellite High school, led by 2 Fury Players  (Allison Griffin & Tishia Jewell) breezed into another Final 4 by defeating rival St. Thomas Aquinas by a score of 3-0.  The defeat was against 10 Time State Champion St. Thomas Aquinas who ousted Satellite last year in the Regional final.  This will only be the 2nd time since 1987 that St. Thomas will miss the Final 4.

Satellite vs St. Thomas Aquinas Article

Now, the two schools and 7 teammates will have to face each other on Thursday Night at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale to see who goes to the 5A State Championship Game.
 

High School District Champions
01/20/07

Once again the Valrico Fury Girls lead their respective High Schools to District Championships (4 District Championships and 2 District Finalist)!  This capped off a season where Fury High School teams combined for a record of (90-17-9) in game action.  Now all 6 schools still alive will begin State Playoff action next week. 

• East Bay vs Countryside in the 6A Regional
• Bloomingdale vs Riverridge in 5A Regional
• George Jenkins vs Lake Howell in 5A Regional
• Newsome vs Land O Lakes in 5A Regional
• Satellite vs West Boca Raton in 5A Regional
• Bayside vs Martin County in 5A Regional

East Bay High School (15-1-2) Fury team members (Lindsey Rankin, Lauren Verbosky, Erika Miranda) lead the school to it's first District title in 5 years, knocking out Sarasota 3-0, which included a final goal that Lindsey Rankin bent in directly from a corner kick to seal the victory after Sarasota was pressing for a comeback.  East Bay will now take on Countryside HS in the Regional Quarter Finals.

East Bay v Sarasota News Article

Newsome High School (15-2-2) Fury team members (Rudi Rodriguez, Kendall Graham, Ana Cate, Ashley Evers, and Samantha Simpson) competed against fellow Fury team member (Nancy Davison) on Bloomingdale (11-1-2) for the 5A-8 Title.  Bloomingdale scored first until Fury Team Member (Ashley Evers) scored Newsome's only regulation goal.  After regulation and 2 full overtimes, the game remained tied.  That's when Fury Goalkeeper (Kendall Graham) came up big physically stopping 6 of the 9 Penalty Kicks to seal the victory and District Title.

Newsome v Bloomingdale Game Article

National Ranked (Adidas NSCAA #3) Satellite Beach High School (20-2-1)  and Fury team mates (Allison Griffin & Tishia Jewell) lead their school to another yet  5A-13 District Championship over fellow team mate (Niki Richardson) and Bayside High School (17-6-1).  The score was 8-3 with Tishia Jewell netting 2 of the goals in the victory along with a front page cover shot on the prep section.

Satellite v Bayside Game Article

George Jenkins High School (13-5-1) and Fury team member (Kayla Bala) won yet another District Championship in 5A-6 after knocking off Winter Haven High School in a Penalty Kick Shootout after 2 over time periods.  Kayla Bala took the first PK shot in the shootout to help start the streak that would end the match. 

George Jenkins v Winter Haven Game Article
 

High School Success
01/19/07

The Valrico Fury Girls lead their respective High Schools to the State Playoffs!

Congratulations to all the players below who will be leading their teams to the District Championships tonight (1/19/07).  Almost all have already qualified for the Regional Finals and just playing the District Final for seeding.  Unfortunately several of our teammate schools will have to play each other for the championships (Bloomingdale vs Newsome) and  (Satellite vs Bayside). 

• Bayside - 5A district 13 (Nikki Richardson)
• Bloomingdale - 5A district 8 (Nancy Davison)
• East Bay - 6A district 8 (Lindsey Rankin, Lauren Verbosky, Erika Miranda)
• George Jenkins - 5A district 6 (Kayla Bala)
• Newsome - 5A district 8 (Rud Rodriguez, Kendall Graham, Ana Cate, Ashley Evers, and Samantha Simpson)
• Satellite- 5A district 13 (Allison Griffin, Tishia Jewell)

Fury Players In The News
 

Valrico Forwards lead High School State & National Scoring
12/15/06

Valrico Fury Forwards (Allison Griffin & Tishia Jewell) are both leading the county High School Scoring race as Sophomores.  Allison Griffin netted her 36th goal and 19th assist in order to be included in the National High School Scoring Ranks. 

 

Valrico Fury's Kayla Bala named to US Region III Team
12/01/06

Kayla Bala competed with the Region 3 Soccer Team in the US Soccer Inter-Regional Olympic Development Team during Thanksgiving weekend down in South Florida.

After her success down in South Florida with the Region 3 Squad, she was called up to the squad again to attend another event in California in March.

Great Job Kayla!
 

Tryouts Completed

TRYOUTS for the Valrico Fury U-16 Girls have been completed.  Since our Saturday tryout has been cancelled due to the US Club Soccer Regional event that we will be out of town for, if there was an interested candidate that has not attended a previous tryout and was planning on coming to the Saturday tryout, please contact the coaching staff at:  Coach@ValricoFury.com to schedule a workout.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following: 

Bala, Kayla - Lakeland, FL
Cate, Ana - Lithia, FL
Davison, Nancy - Brandon, FL
Evers, Ashley - Valrico, FL
Graham, Kendall - Riverview, FL
Graus, Brianna - Valrico, FL
Griffin, Allison - Indian Harbour Beach, FL
Jewell, Tishia - Satellite Beach, FL
Kaplan, Katie - Valrico, FL
Latulip, Stephanie - Valrico, FL
Miranda, Erika - Riverview, FL 
Rankin, Lindsey - Apollo Beach, FL
Richardson, Dominique - Palm Bay, FL
Rodriguez, Rudi - Valrico, FL
Simpson, Samantha - Lithia, FL
Verbosky, Lauren - Riverview, FL
 

Olympic Development Program

CONGRATULATIONS to the following FURY Players for being selected to the Florida State ODP Team and invitation to Region 3 ODP Camp.

Bala, Kayla
Cate, Ana
Griffin, Allison
Jewell, Tishia
Rodriguez, Rudi
 

Valrico Fury featured on FOX Soccer Channel

The Valrico Fury (in White) game versus the Stones River Lady Strikers (in Red) at the FINALS of the Score At The Shore tournament was featured on the FOX Soccer Channel.  Below are a few of the screen captures from the broadcast.  Unfortunately, the Fury fell 1-0 to the #3 team in the Nation from Tennessee. 
 

 

US Club Soccer State Champions

The Valrico Fury U-15 Girls played up an age group in the Inaugural US Club Girls State Championship for U-16 Girls and came home victorious, outscoring opponents 10-2 and earning a shot to play in the US Club Regional in June.