Featured Article

Tryout dates announced for Chemeketa’s soccer programs

soccer tryouts. Tryout dates for men's soccer: March 8-9 and April 5
Tryout dates for women's soccer: March 22-23 and April 12

Chemeketa Community College will hold tryouts for its men's and women's soccer programs in March and April.

A two-day open tryout for the men's squad is slated for Saturday, March 8, at 10 a.m. and will continue through Sunday, March 9. Athletes must be present at the beginning of the two-day tryout to qualify for later rounds. A second one-day tryout is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, at 10 a.m.

The two-day open tryout for the women's team is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, at 10 a.m. and will continue through Sunday, March 23. Athletes must be present at the beginning of the two-day tryout to qualify for later rounds. A second one-day tryout is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m.

All tryouts will be held at the Chemeketa athletic field, 4000 Lancaster Drive, N.E.

Marty Limbird, a Chemeketa Community College physical education instructor, will lead the college's men's soccer program during its inaugural season later this fall.

"Chemeketa will be the only low-cost college in the immediate area with a men's soccer program and scholarship opportunities," said Limbird, 29, of Portland.

The nearest comparable programs are hosted by Clark Community College in Washington and Coos Bay Community College on the Oregon Coast, said Cassie Belmodis, Chemeketa's athletic director.

Oscar Monteblanco, coach of the women's varsity soccer team at Valley Catholic High School in Beaverton, will lead the college's women's soccer program during its inaugural season later this fall.

Monteblanco led the Valley Catholic squad to the state quarterfinals in his first year as coach of the program. The team went all the way to the semifinals in Monteblanco sophomore year.

"I started playing soccer at the age of 5 in Lima, Peru. I've been coaching at the club and high school levels for the past 14 years," said Monteblanco, 45, a resident of Hillsboro.

"Oscar's knowledge and coaching experience, in addition to his involvement and coordination of soccer clubs in Oregon, will provide credibility to our new women's soccer program," said Belmodis.

The soccer programs enhance Chemeketa's current athletic offerings of women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball. With the launch of the soccer programs, Chemeketa officials are hoping to provide new pathways for athletes looking to reconnect with their education.

"There are no age restrictions, but the athletes we select for the squads must be willing to complete 36 credit hours by next season or they will be ineligible," said Limbird.

Chemeketa's other sports programs have retained more than 95 percent of their athletes for two years, 90 percent continue their education at four-year institutions. For more information, contact Oscar Monteblanco at 503.888.3152 or mlimbird@chemeketa.edu, or Cassie Belmodis at 503.399.5159 or cassieb@chemeketa.edu. For more information about men's soccer, contact Belmodis or Marty Limbird at 503.399.5030 or mlimbird@chemeketa.edu.

Updated February 11, 2008 by Marketing and Student Recruitment.