BIXBY SOCCER: Members of the Bixby Girls Soccer Team take a moment for a photo with their coach. From left are Kari Power, Sarah Beth Ruhsam, Lacy Fannell, Maeghan Estes, Megan Marchesano and Head Coach Justin Elkington.
JOHN W. BARHAM for GTR Newspapers
Bixby’s girl’s soccer coach Justin Elkington hails from England where the number one sport is soccer. With his community involvement, he’s making sure the sport continues to be one of the fastest growing sports in Oklahoma.
Elkington also serves as the director of coaching for the Hurricane Futball Club, located in Broken Arrow. He is one of twelve in Oklahoma that holds a Director of Coaching Diploma, which is the highest coaching license in Soccer Coaching Administration. He graduated from ORU in 1997, and he is the perfect match for the Lady Spartans soccer team.
“When Jim Rein, became the assistant coach at the University of Tulsa this past year,” says Elkington, “he asked me if I would be interested in replacing him as the girls soccer coach. Since we worked together for 12 years, I was familiar with the program and I accepted his offer.”
The Lady Spartans are working hard to maintain their 14-1 record from last year. The mix of experienced and young players on the team has expectations for the season held high.
“We have two captains, Lacy Fannell and Megan Marchesano,” says Elkington, “along with Sarah Fiscus, a forward, who is a diamond in the rough. She has a tremendous work ethic and her unorthodox style makes her unique. As Kari Power, a freshman, progresses she will get better and better.”
The other seniors include forward Kim Sweeney, goalkeeper Samantha Rusk, Danyelle Robinson, and Maeghan Estes. Kara Kolibas, Marie Gillenwater, Stephanie Gasmen and Hannah Snyder are all talented and solid players. Juniors Jessica Bishop, Bailey McGuffin and sophomores Sarah Ruhsam and Natalie Crosslin are strong and will see a lot of playing time.
