SENIOR RAMS: The Lady Rams soccer team for 2008 includes seven returning seniors. With such a strong group of girls who have spent three years building their skills together, the Lady Rams are looking forward to a successful season. From left are: Abby Farrar, Amanda Reed, Becky Aucoin, Katrina Griffiths, Robyn Wellendorf, Caitlin Boyd and Paige Hafner.
JOHN W. BARHAM for GTR Newspapers
Owasso girls soccer coach Sam Bowers is entering his ninth year as head coach of the Lady Rams. His team has been to the playoffs eight consecutive years and has a record of 89-25-2. He holds a career record of 248-62-8 during his 16 years of coaching at Catoosa and Owasso. Bowers has won 14 district championships, three runner-up championships, two frontier conference championships, one state championship and has coached over 65 all-state players. He has been chosen as an All-State coach five times during his coaching career. He graduated from Northeastern State University with a bachelor’s degree in education.
“I give credit to assistant coaches Alan Douthitt, Kelley Raby and Kenny Lussier, Athletic Director Danny Hightower and his players for all the successful years at Owasso,” says Bowers. “The Booster Club and all the parents who have supported the program deserve a big thank you.”
With talented seniors the Lady Rams will have an opportunity to be successful if they stay healthy and free of injuries.
“The big question this early in the season is having a strong goal keeper,” says Bowers. “This is a huge position to fill. With senior Ellen Traylor and sophomore Taylor Brooks working hard to fill that spot and our 20 players returning from last year, we have an opportunity to be successful.”
One way players see that opportunity is through a team that knows each other well.
“Our seniors have all been playing together for awhile,” says midfielder Abby Farrar.
“The unity that is among our senior girls has equipped us to play any team,” says Amanda Reed. “Together as a whole, we can accomplish anything.”
Midfielder Paige Hafner says the team also looks to clean up last year’s game and improve on problem areas.
“We are working to fix our weaknesses from last year,” says Hafner, “and build on our strengths. We could have a really successful season.”
“We have confidence in our abilities and are much stronger this year,” agrees defensive player Katrina Griffiths.
The Lady Rams’ other experienced players are: Sally Matthews, Christin St. Gemme, Katie Nelson, Samanta Pesek, Courtney Cleveland, Taylor Vick, Julia Nimal, Miranda White, Cherish Colby, Taylynn Langley, Ashley Prentice, Jordan Hendrickson, Cayli St. Gemme and Celeste St. Gemme.
