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NOW, JUST FOR FUN -- here's our team bios....
can you guess which ones are fakes?
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Alyssa Meyer:
A former underwear model, Alyssa Meyer always aspired to team sports as an outlet for her creativity and a way to connect with others. "Modeling is such a solo business," she notes as she pulls on some of her signature stockings before a game. "I was looking for a team-oriented sport and also for way to express myself physically without having to show so much skin." Well-known in soccer circles for her innovative leggings, Alyssa is a force to be reckoned with on the defensive line. "You know, it's in my blood, I guess - holding that back line strong is kind of what I've been doing all of my career....after all, underwear is the last line of defense, too." In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys collecting colorful push-pins and creating artful displays with them on her cork-board.
Ashlee Henderson:
My name is Ashlee, but my friends called me A-to-tha-SH (or Ash). While I always wanted to play soccer, I didn't start until 3 years ago (unless you count the season that I played when I was 5). Now, I play on a couple of different teams and sometimes ask myself why I waited so long. When I'm not playing soccer, I try to live life to the fullest. I'm a preschool dropout, but I really try to not let that stand in the way of achieving my goals and dreams. I believe I was brought into this world to make a difference, so that's what I'm trying to do, one day at a time!
Anyway, I'm so excited to be a member of Surge. I definitely foresee some fun times ahead!
Bri Babb:
Bri has always had a competitive flair, and she still holds the "Hungry, Hungry Hippos" Oregon State title which she earned after an aggressive (and bloody) battle at the age of eleven. Does she have a favorite hippo on the board? No...Bri is tremendously gifted at adaptation and has proven that she can win at Hippos with whichever color hippo she's assigned, in any lighting condition, and sometimes even blindfolded. Likewise, she can play almost any position on the soccer field with ferocious skill and unequalled passion. When not doing battle with hippos or soccer balls Bri volunteers at the "Hug-A-Rapper-Foundation-Dot-Org." Here, she offers support and a compassion to hip-hop artists and rappers who have lost their sense of rhythm or their abilities to rhyme. She's uniquely suited for this kind of "giving back," for she herself has almost no rhythm, you should see her on the dance floor.
Brittany Kriemendahl:
Brittany's story is a unique one: both parents are astronauts, and she was actually conceived in orbit when her parents were both working a mission on the Space Shuttle Discovery in the late 1980s! "That weightless feeling didn't get in the way of our total attraction," they said. (It was after this mission that NASA devised separate, gender-specific sleeping quarters, but that's another story.) Her stellar beginnings have helped catapult her to great heights here on earth, too - somehow the normal rules of gravity don't seem to apply to her and she attended Barnum & Bailey Clown College on full-scholarship, graduating top-of-her-class with a double-major in Trapeze Artistry and Cannonball. She has a minor in Lion Taming, because she "loves cats" but you'll find she's a bit twitchy around them these days...one peek at that scar of hers and you'll know why. After touring the small towns of the Canadian midwest extensively with her carnival troupe, she is now living out her peaceful circus retirement in Seattle, where she enjoys playing lots of soccer and visiting the Korean Day Spa in Lynnwood.
Carly Helm:
Carly is a textiles expert and owns a thriving quilting business-slash-bar in Crown Hill. She attended the prestigious New York Academy of Threads from her kindergarten days until she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Knitting, Crochet, and Tatting. She's spent the past few months on the talk show circuit ("Matt Lauer is SO HOT" she beams, "AND he has a wicked slip-stitch, I would never have known that about him!") promoting her newest book, "Get Hooked & Stay in Stitches." This how-to guide for finding and staying in love is collection of stories [and afghan patterns!] that blossomed from the monthly singles' mixers she hosts at the Quilting Bar. Her athletic history is just as colorful, punctuated by numerous track-and-field successes and lots of really big soccer trophies. She's excited to play with The Surge because she is addicted to running fast & playing soccer, but also because the name of the team sounds a little bit like a sewing machine attachment.
Emily Glenn:
The world's leading expert in reproductive vulcanology, Emily Glenn's dedication to soccer was born while stationed in Italy doing an extensive study of Vesuvius during her senior year of high school. She spent a lot of her Italian time examining the remains of Pompeii while simultaneously learning about the language of love in one of the world's most romantic countries. This alchemy of academic pursuits allowed her to make some breakthrough discoveries about earthquakes, eruptions, erections, and conception. Her first paper, "Is Your Seismic Thrust Making Her Magma Rise?" hit the scientific circles that same year and since then she's spent most of her time lecturing on the international circuit, participating in think-tanks, and helping couples use a clever combination of earth science and tools she invented herself [like "the Sexy Seismograph"] to conceive. Throughout it all, she's found time to pursue her passions for soccer (and rugby!) - always leveraging the power of a tectonic shift (and a powerful kick!) to keep the opposing team from scoring. As a defender (or goalkeeper), her motto is: "If you're looking to score some offspring, I can help you off the pitch. But if you're looking to score a goal, I'll be your worst nightmare." Playing with The Surge is a dream come true for Emily and she's stoked to bring a little eruptive activity to the defensive line while helping the team to conceive a landslide of victories. Go Surge!
Fio Bazo:
Some people call me BIG FIO, others call me BIGGEST FIO but....you can call me anything you want. I come from a little big country called PERU! Soccer is huge down there so - growing up, my brothers and I would play all day/all night. I believe that life is too beautiful and too short to waste it being negative, so even when times are tough, I try to be thankful for everything I have and everybody around me. Change the world by changing yourself and love everybody! I'm proud to be an AMERICAN ATHLETE!!!
Ivy Bjornson:
A founding member of Dancing Dinosaur, the Tokyo Swing Dance Society, Ivy is well-known throughout all of Asia and certain parts of Mt. Vernon for her wicked Lindy Hop prowess. Though you might think that with a last name like "Bjornson" that she's Scandanavian by blood - the suprising truth is that she is really a distantly descended, but still throne-worthy, Japanese princess. The little-known Nordic Invasion of Japan in 1374 resulted in the entire ruling family's abduction and relocation to a suburb of modern-day Oslo, where her twin brother recently founded a modest furniture enterprise called Ikea. While he was pursuing his pressboard dreams, Ivy wanted to see the world and decided to start with Japan, the land of her blood heritage. She became an instant celebrity and if you visit Tokyo anytime soon be sure to watch for the Anime version of Ivy - there's a whole cartoon line! She got into soccer when she developed the rare, but life-threatening affliction "Swinger's Scurvy" and was forced to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada for dry air and rehabilitation. It was there in the neon desert that her love of a new sport - soccer - blossomed. Having made a full recovery, she now employs some of her best dance moves on the soccer field, creating a truly royal experience for anyone who's lucky enough to watch.
Jess Whitsitt:
Jess invented the color pink.
Joanna Gentili:
To sum me up, I would say I like to try new things - that's my approach to life. I once took a bus full of dancing gypsies who were smuggling Marlboros from Romania into Turkey... Not my smartest move, but it makes for a great story. I'm super psyched to be playing with all the fun girls involved with Surge, and am hopeful we go to the gay games in 2010.
Katie Taylor:
Katie Taylor grew up performing with her family's face-melting Christain Heavy Metal Band, "Lay Down Lucifer." Much like Donnie and Marie or the Jackson Five, this wholesome singing sensation traveled together, rocking Bible Camps and Youth Ministries while simultaneously filling monster-truck-sized stadiums with rabid, god-loving, head-banging fans. She played drums. She now lives high on the hog thanks to her royalties, leaving her with ample free time to teach calligraphy, watercolor, and oragami to disadvantaged children in Medina. No longer into heavy metal, Katie now gets her heart pumping on the soccer field where she's known as "The Eliminator." And not just because she eats a lot of fiber.
Kerry Ward:
Position: Midfielder
Born: April 16, 1974, in Gwinn, Michigan
Hometown: Manchester, Vermont
College: Smith College, BA in German Language & Literature
Grad School: University of Washington, MA in Germanics
Current Occupation: Market Researcher
Aspired Occupation: Cat Burglar
I live in the Rainier Beach neighborhood in Seattle with my partner of 8 years, Jennie. We have one cat named Mrs. Butterworth.
I love soccer! I also like to run, hike and ski (both downhill and cross-country). Someday I’d like to learn to back country ski! I love to car camp and like to backpack too, but I tend to eat more than I can carry …
I’ve played soccer since ever I can remember! While early photographic evidence proves that I was initially more interested in picking dandelions than playing soccer, I became a more serious player between the ages of 13-14. I started on the varsity girls soccer team in high school for four years, captained in my senior year and was named to the Marble Valley League, Vermont All-State and Vermont-New Hampshire All-State Tournament teams. I played NCAA Division III soccer for two years in college and was named to the Seven Sisters All-Tournament team as rookie of the year in 1992. Since college, I’ve played in three recreational leagues in Seattle: Co-Rec Soccer Association, Redmond Soccer League and the Washington State Women’s Soccer Association. I scored my first goal off a header in 2007! I am super psyched to be a part of an dedicated, fun and talented team!
Kim Driscoll:
Kim is no stranger to limelight, having played ongoing roles in everyone's favorite sit-coms of the 80s such as "Hogan's Heroes," Disney’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” and Nickelodeon's "You Can't Do That on Television." She now makes her living passing on to high school students the heady knowledge she gained in the cut-throat world of cable TV. It is her talent for sassy one-liners and her uncanny ability to toss out a well-timed zinger that makes her a favorite amongst her peers and her students alike. A marathoner, Kim makes time to travel far and wide. She can boast having run marathons on all seven continents, even Antarctica! "It would have been better if I'd have had snow-shoes for that one, though," she remembers. When not running or cultivating a new batch of tv-superstars, Kim lives her life in search of the perfect egg-roll. Oh, and she plays soccer as well. "It compliments my pole-vaulting season," she reasons. That's her other pastime: the pole vault. And now you know.
Kristina Armenakis:
Kristina Armenakis originally hails from South Carolina and has been playing soccer for over 20 years. She fell in love with women's soccer as a high school student in 1996 when Mia Hamm juggled a soccer ball up a set of stairs to the tune of "Bittersweet Symphony" in a Nike commerical. Kristina is currently a graduate student in Social Work and Public Administration at the University of Washington and spends most of her time studying. She also likes to write short stories, watch 90210 re-runs and chill with friends.
Lorena Vera:
I’ve been playing soccer since I remember! I love sports - I played basketball and volleyball too, at school. I was always selected to play National level, especially Soccer and Volleyball. Now I love to play with the women of Seattle!
Lori Senger:
An avid balloonist, Lori frequently travels to (and competes in) hot-air-balloon competitions and events world-wide. Her current balloon, which is shaped like a Puli showdog (matted hair and all!), has won her several awards and also a centerfold spread in "Sunset" Magazine. She is, in fact, the proud owner of thirteen real-life Pulis, and she spends much of her time working with her dread-locked canine champions - both in the air (for they frequently are seen traveling with her in her balloon!) as well as at international-level dog competitions. Before the Puli balloon, she piloted a soccer-ball-shaped blimp: she has attended the past three world-cups, serving as the "Eye in the Sky" for above-field camera access. Her devotion to soccer began at an early age when whe refused to cut her fingernails until allowed to join the only soccer team in her hometown. Having "played with the boys" for two decades, including lettering on the boy's high school varsity soccer team, Lori is ready to help lead the Surge to international victory!
Lucero Cueva-Estrella:
Futbol became part of me basically ever since I existed...I was born in Mexico with five older brothers that lived and breathed soccer and eventually I became not only a fan of the sport, but also a player. I'm a proud Chivas fan that will stay loyal 'till the end! I've enjoyed playing soccer throughout school, indoor, select, coed and of course the streets... but I'm really excited to be part of a team that shares the same passion for the sport as myself. My other passions in life are my family, my doggies and working with Latino at-risk youth! Viva Futbol, Viva Surge!!!
Lynn Altmann:
I'm a baby-making, snowboarding, motorcycling, soccer-loving, dance floor groovin', yoga-ooooming, PTA-attending, fun-finding fool who's thrilled to discover a great group of girlies to kick around a black and white ball. I joined Surge because I love the enthusiasm for learning and bettering our soccer skills alongside the common goal of having a really good time while building friendships and great team camaraderie. I'm a fun junkie and believe that life is for living to its fullest potential. I'm excited about Team Surge and its mission and I'm thrilled and honored to be part of an awesome team of skilled women.
Monique LaFollette:
Never one to miss out on an opportunity for a free lunch or a good time, Monique continues to find delight in the everyday, finagle all sorts of tiny magic from commonplace experiences, and charm unsuspecting coworkers out of office supplies. Continuing her valiant quest live every day to its fullest, she spends most of her time doing Important Work and Big Thinking. But sometimes she squeezes in a nice afternoon nap or a quick trip to somewhere, always setting a good example for others by never letting a fortune cookie go un-eaten. On the soccer field, she finds herself happiest when running plenty, distributing the ball, and trying not to fall down. Scoring goals is fun, but getting The Assist ain’t too shabby either. As described by the piano teachers and brownie troop leaders of her youth, our hero is "gifted procrastinator" who specializes in milking small miracles from the Almighty Last Minute.Welcome to her life, her dreams, her successes & her failures. Fueled by: lots of fiber, plenty of sunshine, and loads of endorphins.
Stacy Hughes:
Stacy is a Washington native and a graduate of the University of Washington. She has been playing soccer since the age of seven. She was coached and trained as a goal keeper by her father and as well as professional goal keepers from around the country. Throughout the years she played on various select teams in and around the Washing area. She currently plays both indoor and outdoor soccer.
Wendy Soule:
I was a very active child and my mother put me in just about everything she could. I did dance (tap and ballet), gymnastics, swimming, karate, softball, volleyball, track, basketball, skiing, skating and of course soccer. I lettered in track (I'm a sprinter) in high school and made it to the state finals. I’ve played soccer since I was 7yrs old. I lettered 3 years in high school soccer for Kentridge & I made second team All-South Puget Sound League in 92 (my senior year). One of the top players in the state back then, I was also offered soccer scholarships at Evergreen State College, Portland University and Central Washington University (though I ended up attending Green River Community College, which was a great learning experience). Besides soccer and most sports, I love the outdoors: camping, fishing, skiing, hiking with my dogs. I also love to ride motorcycles, dirt bikes and quads. I enjoy spending time with my family and my children. I have 3 sons from an earlier relationship (ages 12, 9 and 8) & I'm now engaged to the love of my life – we’ll be getting married in July 2009! I'm happily living with my future wife and our 3 sons in Federal Way. When not playing soccer or enjoying the outdoors, I’m a Boeing Machinist (have been for over 10 yrs!) – and I love my job.
Betsy Paulson, Coach!
I started playing soccer at age five and have played almost continuously since then, including select, premier and college club soccer at Northwestern University. I have coached the University of Washington women’s club team for the past six years. I have my USSF National D license and hope to take the C license course in the next couple of years. I am a personal trainer, former librarian and did my first sprint triathlon last summer. I love taking free kicks and will take my ball to an empty field and practice them for hours. Thierry Henry is my favorite player. What I love most about coaching: teaching my players to solve problems together rather than look to me to provide the answers. It’s all about teamwork.
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If you feel that certain biographical information about you that is presented here is incorrect, please feel free to author your own (more accurate) bio and send it asap to raincitysurge@gmail.com.
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