Background: The Express finished first in the Presidio League's AA-C Division this season with a 10-1 record. The players are fourth-and fifth-graders from Carlsbad and Encinitas who began playing together in June.Team members: Neil Appleton, Tanner Bracci, Trevin Braun, Nolan Gallagher, Jason Garland, T.J. Grisafe, Chase Haggard, Austin Kasselmann, Derek Kuebler, Peter Kuebler, Rollo Luck, Patrick Morgan, Sean Murphy, Walker Panek and Christopher Turner; coach Jay Panek, assistant coach Jim Kasselmann and team manager Andrea Panek.
Strong showing: The Express won the recent Presidio Cup tournament, held at Chula Vista High. The team went 2-0-1 with wins over the Mesa Fire and Mira Mesa Matrix. The win over the Matrix, in the championship game, came on penalty kicks. "For the kids to step up and nail those kicks with all the parents watching . . . I would have shanked it for sure," said Jay Panek. "I can't imagine a 10-year-old going through that."
Good chemistry: Although this was the team's first season together, Panek says many of the kids knew each other from school. He says that familiarity was an advantage on the field. "They have sleepovers together and things like that all the time," Panek said. "The unique thing about the team is it wasn't just a bunch of competitive kids pulled together from all over. They knew each other and all got along really well."
Up next: The Express will compete in the U12 AA-B Division next season.
A profile of a North Coast athlete, team, alumnus, volunteer or someone of interest is published each Thursday and Saturday on the Community Sports page. Do you have an idea for a profile? Contact Whitelaw Reid at (619) 293-1829 or whitelaw.reid@uniontrib.com