1. BOUNCING the ball off his head. David Jenkins jumps high in the air. 2. IN FULL STRIDE, David Smith prepares to pass to a teammate. 3. SOCCER TEAM. First Row: Sianjina, Davenporl, Shackelford. Veteto. Harrington, Machen, Smith. Back Row: Berkley· Coach, Wills, Jenkins, Flanigan. Johnson, M. Wilson, Glenn, Whittington, Mackey-Coach, C. Wilson-Cooch. 4. STRETCHING as for as he can, goalie Erwin Veteto reaches out to block a score attempt. 5. PHIL WILLS displays good eye-body coordination by juggling the ball. For The Love Of It - Don H ,,"utlfl I -::: - /><1/1 l/ol/u'IIl Chuck Wilson T he soccer program in Searcy was relatively young, compared to sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. But someday, with the help of some hard work· ing, dedicated people pushing for its cause, the program might become a big recreation~ al activity for many in the area. One of these people was Chllck Wilson. Wilson was one of the coaches of the Searcy Steel team and had a natural love for the sport. ". never play\!d soccer but I became a fan from the moment. saw my first game," he said. Wilson was an English teacher at Searcy High School, where he had taught for the past three years. Before teaching he retired from the United States Air Force, having obtained the rank of Major. While in the Air Force, he was stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base, West Germany. It was in Europe that he became interested in soccer. After retirement and the move to Searcy, Wilson was encouraged to participate in the development of the program because of his TAKING a player 10 the side. Coach Chuck Wilson explains his mistake. knowledge uf the sport. "I've coached since I came to Searcy three years ago," said Wilson. "My two boys, Mark and Joseph, played on German teams during the dura· tion of our stay in Europe. The city had a very active youth program so I agreed to coach their team. The first two years we came in second in the state." The soccer teams became an important part of the Wilson family. "My wife, Dawn, could be called the tearn mother, I guess you might say," commented the coach. "Mark is a sophomore at UCA, but he wanted to play anyway and he's a very good player. Joseph plays in the under nineteen division." The squad always stressed a team-oriented attitude. "We were a very close~knit group," noted Coach Wilson, "and we tried to maintain a team integrity concept. The boys were very close friends." Adding' that all the players were special to him, Wilson said, "I can't think of any other group of people in Searcy that I would rather be associated with. They're just beautiful people." - Ken Bissell 285 Soccer
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