Greetings!
As Anchorage’s largest and Alaska’s most successful youth soccer club kicked off the first quarter of the year, Cook Inlet SC excelled beyond any and all previous expectations with its Recreational program exploding in growth and its Competitive program sending an unprecedented numbers of teams out of state to compete (and seeing success) in some of the nation’s top events! And with each goal score and each shutout recorded, the club moved another step closer towards its goal of becoming a sporting powerhouse across the region. And with such efforts, we are proud of the accomplishments of our players, coaches, team managers, treasurers, families, alumni, and staff, and are grateful for all of their support throughout the start of the year.
With that, please enjoy below a rundown of club news from the first three months of 2023 both on and off the pitch!
In this edition:
- A Message from the President of Cook Inlet SC
- Community Partners
- Rec Program Update
- Comp Program Update
- Alumni Update
A Message from the president of
cook inlet sc
Hello Cook Inlet SC Family,
Thank you for being a valued member of Cook Inlet Soccer Club! I am writing to inform you of a leadership transition among the CISC staff. Cook Inlet SC Executive Director Shane Calvert will be stepping back into a consulting role due to an unfortunate/abrupt personal circumstance that has come up. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank him for helping our club take the steps it has in the recent months. I look forward to Shane keeping a strong relationship with the club going forward.
That being said, I am very excited to announce that Scott Hickox will take over the role of Executive Director.
Scott was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. His love and passion for soccer was developed at an early age while attending Portland Timbers games during the 1970’s. As a player, he was coached by several former Timbers players while playing for the Oregon State Select and ODP teams as well as for Club Select teams. Scott attended the 1988 Far West Region Tournament after winning a State Championship with his club team. Scott earned all-conference honors during high school and went on to play college soccer at Santa Rosa Junior College where he helped his team win the California State College Championship. After playing soccer in college, Scott has remained active in the game through coaching and playing.
Scott moved to Alaska in 1992 to start working as a Raft Guide and continued his education at Sheldon Jackson College, where he graduated with a degree in Secondary Education. Scott is coming to Cook Inlet SC after 22 years as teacher for the Anchorage School District. During his career with ASD, Scott worked as a Social Studies Teacher at East High School, as a Curriculum Teacher-Expert at the District Office, and most recently as a Math and Social Studies Teacher in Girdwood.
Scott currently holds a USSF C License and is in the process of earning his USSF B License. He has coached recreational soccer in Girdwood, his home, for several years. Additionally, he has been coaching with Cook Inlet SC since 2017 and has been the club’s HS Academy Head Coach for the past three years. During his coaching tenure with CISC, his teams have experienced great success at Far West Regionals, playing in the USYS National League: NW Conference as well as having former players go on to play at the collegiate level. In 2019, Scott was awarded the Alaska Youth Soccer Associations Competitive Coach of the Year Award. He is also currently the Head Coach for the USYS Alaska ODP 2009 Girls, and an Assistant Coach at South Anchorage High School, helping the team to win the 2022 D1 State Title, their first since 2017.
Considering Scott’s experience, professionalism, and history with not just the club, but Alaska soccer, we are confident that he will continue driving the CISC forward. With Scott’s help, the club is preparing to announce some exciting initiatives to improve the competitive environment and opportunities for our players. Scott will be transitioning into the role over the next few weeks, and will be onboard full time as of June 5, 2023. To help make sure this transition is as smooth as possible, Shane will be supporting Scott/Cook Inlet SC with normal day-to-day operations until he is fully onboard and ready to take on this new challenge.
If you have any questions during the transition, please send them to info@cookinletsc.com.
Again, I’d like to thank you for being a member of the CISC family. We are excited for what the future holds.
Sincerely,
Adam Hensel
Cook Inlet SC President
Without all of our community partners, Cook Inlet SC would not be able to offer the most affordable and quality soccer programs in the state. Thanks to their generosity, CISC is able to award over $15,000 in financial aid for the 2022-2023 soccer season and increase access to organized sports for more young Alaskans.
When you see owners and employees of our community partners, please thank them for their contributions to youth development and support their businesses.
We are pleased to share the latest companies supporting Cook Inlet SC’s programs and look forward to seeing their logos on new competitive program jerseys as well as recreational uniforms this summer.
Community Partner Spotlight
Cook Inlet Soccer Club is proud of its partnership with Luff Orthodontics for the benefit of Alaska’s youth. Through a generous donation from Luff Orthodontics, Cook Inlet SC is able to offer a record amount of financial aid for eligible applicants for the 2022-2023 soccer season.
As the Official Orthodontics Partner of Cook Inlet SC, Luff Orthodontics is dedicated to providing the best orthodontic care in an atmosphere of sincere warmth, helping patients enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile.
“This partnership is a huge milestone in helping CISC remove financial barriers for Alaska families to participate in its programs,” shared Cook Inlet SC Board Member Dylan Faber. “The impact of organized sports for youth and community development are immeasurable, and we are truly grateful to have this pillar of the community partner with CISC to benefit young Alaskans.”
As a major partner, Luff Orthodontics’s logo appears on the sleeve of all competitive team jerseys, warm-up tops, training jerseys, fan gear and coaching tops.
To learn more about Luff Orthodontics and the comprehensive orthodontics services they provide, please visit their website at lufforthodontics.com.
CISC Recreational soccer seasons
Anchorage’s most affordable, largest, and comprehensive youth recreational soccer program continues to see unprecedented growth, seeing nearly 500 players register for the Spring Indoor Season! That’s on top of the nearly 400 players registered for the Winter 2023 Season! It’s an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING way to begin 2023!
With that, registration for the CISC Summer 2023 Outdoor Recreational Soccer Season, presented by Kendall Auto Alaska, is currently open with spots filling up fast!
The seven-week season will commence on June 5 and conclude on July 20, 2023 with practices and games taking place between Monday through Thursday evenings (depending on the division). The U4 Lil’ Strikers Division will play twice per week with practices and games combined within the 45-minute session. The U6 and older divisions will practice once per week for an hour with the second day being reserved for games. Games will commence the second week of the season.
For more information on the CISC Summer 2023 Outdoor Recreational Soccer Season, presented by Kendall Auto Alaska, please visit HERE.
Additionally, you are interested in becoming involved with the Recreational program, please email staff. We are always on the lookout for coaches and referees.
CISC pre-Comp Training Academy
This Spring, Cook Inlet Soccer Club is hosting its Pre-Comp Training Academy again, its purpose being to offer those players playing in CISC’s Recreational Soccer League who were born in 2015 and 2016 and are considering transitioning to competitive soccer an opportunity to supplement their recreational soccer experience by training with the Cook Inlet SC Competitive Coaching Staff over a six-week period prior to the Summer 2023 Pre-Competitive Soccer Season beginning in May.
The Cook Inlet SC Competitive Coaching Staff will focus its training on developing an individual player’s technical ability with the ball in a game-like environment at the level a player may experience playing competitive soccer.
The Pre-Comp Training Academy will take place on Sunday afternoons from 3-4pm during CISC Spring 2023 Indoor Recreational Soccer Season at The Dome.
For more information and to register, please visit HERE.
UK INTERNATIONAL SOCCER CAMPS
For the Summer 2023 season, Cook Inlet Soccer Club is proud to announce it’s again partnering with U.K. International Soccer Camps to offer TWO week-long soccer camps (June 5-9 & June 26-30) for players between the ages of 4-14 years old.
U.K. International Soccer Camps are structured to best meet the needs of their clients, the parents and their soccer-mad players. With the standard camps running Monday to Friday, the session options include the following session times: Morning Session (9am-12pm) and Full Day Session (9am-4pm).
For more information and to register, please visit HERE.
In-state and out of state, our Competitive teams have been taking care of business. Check out some of the highlights below:
2022-2023 NATIONAL LEAGUE PRO
The Cook Inlet SC 07G Elite and 09G Elite teams both qualified for the US Youth Soccer National League P.R.O. for the 2022-2023 season. The National League P.R.O. provides a platform for top boys and girls teams in the U14 through U19 age groups to compete in a league format to determine the National League representatives to the annual USYS National Championships.
The Cook Inlet SC 09G Elite team played their second series of games in Tampa, FL between February 3-6, 2023 against some of the top teams in the country in their age group. In four games that weekend, they finished with a record of 2W 2L. The Cook Inlet SC 09G Elite finished the 2022-2023 season fourth in their group with a record of 3W 2D 2L draws with 15 GF and 9 GA.
Additionally, CONGRATULATIONS to Grace Cox (09G) for earning 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗟 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗫𝗜 honors while in Tampa that weekend! Well done Grace! 👏
The Cook Inlet SC 07G Elite team played their second series of games in Mesa, AZ between January 19-22, 2023 against some of the top teams in the country in their age group. In four games that weekend, they finished with a record of 2W 2L. The Cook Inlet SC 07G Elite finished the 2022-2023 season fourth in their group with a record of 3W 4L with 16 GF 9 GA.
Well done to both teams for representing Cook Inlet SC with class in the National League P.R.O. this season! Your CISC family ❤️’s you and are proud to support you on your quest for greatness when competing in this competition next year!
2022-2023 NATIONAL LEAGUE
The Cook Inlet SC 08G Elite and 10G Elite teams both competed in the US Youth Soccer National League: Northwest Conference for the 2022-2023 season. The US Youth Soccer National League: Northwest Conference consists of teams primarily from Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska. The top teams in the Northwest Conference top tier divisions will earn advancement to the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships (NCS) and automatically qualify for National League P.R.O.
The Cook Inlet SC 08G Elite team played their second series of games in Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA between January 14-16, 2023 against some of the top teams in the region in their age group. In four games that weekend, they finished with a record of 2W 2L. The Cook Inlet SC 08G Elite finished the 2022-2023 season third in their group with a record of 4W 1D 2L with 27 GF and 11 GA.
The Cook Inlet SC 10G Elite team finished their first year of the US Youth Soccer National League: Northwest Conference on the plus side as well with a record 1W 1D 1L after three games.
Well done to both teams for representing Cook Inlet SC with honor in the National League: Northwest Conference this season! Your CISC family ❤️’s you and are proud to support you on your quest for legendary status when competing in this competition next year!
2023 LAS VEGAS MAYOR’S CUP
Three Cook Inlet SC teams – 07G Premier, 08G Premier & 10G Premier – competed in the 2023 Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup between February 23-25, 2023.
The Cook Inlet SC 07G Premier team played with a lot of heart and grit, finishing with a 2W 1D 1L record, just missing out on a place in the Final. Well done ladies!
The Cook Inlet SC 08G Premier team finished atop their Group with 4W 0L with 12 GF 1 GA, eventually earning a place in the Final. And though the team didn’t experience the championship outcome they wanted, they played lots of amazing soccer over the weekend…6 games in 3 days! Great job ladies!!
Finally, the Cook Inlet SC 10G Premier team played phenomenal soccer, finishing with a 2W in Group play with 11 GF 1 GA, eventually earning a place in the Final. And though the team finished just short of their quest for the Cup, they played inspired soccer over three games of play!!
A BIG SHOUT-OUT to all three teams for representing Cook Inlet SC with distinction while in Sin City! 🏆
2023 LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL
Four Cook Inlet SC teams – 10G Elite, 09G Elite, 09G Premier & 08G Elite – competed in the 2023 Las Vegas Invitational between March 3-5, 2023.
The Cook Inlet SC 10G Elite team played phenomenal soccer over the course of the event, finishing with a 2W 1L in Group play with 8 GF 3 GA, eventually earning a place in the Final. Though the team finished just short of their quest for the Cup, the four games they played was some of the most exciting soccer seen at the tournament all weekend!!
The Cook Inlet SC 09G Elite team played with a lot of heart and grit, finishing with a 1W 1D 1L record, just missing out on a place in the Final. Great job ladies!!
The Cook Inlet SC 09G Premier team finished second in their Group with 1W 2D with 3 GF 1 GA, eventually earning a place in the Final.Though the team didn’t experience the championship outcome they wanted with the opposition being awarded a penalty in the last few minutes of the game, they played amazing soccer over the course of the tournament !
Finally, the Cook Inlet SC 08G Elite team played silky, sweet soccer, finishing with a 1W 2L in Group play with 7 GF 10 GA. Falling short of making the Final, the team, however, honored the badge well playing with determination and confidence!! Well done ladies!!
A BIG SHOUT-OUT to all four teams for representing Cook Inlet SC with style under the neon lights of the Las Vegas strip! 🏆
2023 PLAYERS SHOWCASE
The Cook Inlet SC 06B team played in the 2023 Players Showcase in Las Vegas, NV between March 10-12, 2023!!
The team played with a lot of heart and grit, finishing with a 1W 1D 2L record for fourth place out of eight teams in the standings. The team, playing against some of the top teams in their age group from across the West, represented Cook Inlet SC with class and we are so proud of them!!
Well done gentlemen!! 🏆
2023 PHOENIX CUP
Two Cook Inlet SC teams – 10B & 11G Reign – traveled to Arizona over two weekends to compete in the 2023 Phoenix Cup in Mesa between March 17-19, 2023 (Boys) and March 24-26, 2023 (Girls).
The Cook Inlet SC 10B team finished the weekend with a record of 2W 1L while playing the brand of silky, smooth soccer all have come to expect from the team.
The Cook Inlet SC 11G Reign finished their weekend with 1W 1D 1L record with 10 GF 1 GA, dominating the competition through a combination of hard work and determination over their three games of play.
A BIG SHOUT-OUT to both teams for representing Cook Inlet SC with class under the Arizona sun! 🏆
2023 COLLEGE APPRECIATION DAY
Thank you to everyone who made it out on February 8 to the 2023 CISC College Appreciation Day celebrating two of Cook Inlet SC’s finest – Braeden Young (Earlham College) and Maddie McDonald (Maryville College) – as they signed their Letters of Intent to play collegiate soccer this upcoming Fall.
It was a very special day for these graduating players as friends and family recognized all of the hard work they’ve put in over the years to become the elite soccer players they are today. Cook Inlet Soccer Club is grateful to have been a part of their journey as they move onto the next level in addition to inspiring future generations of CISC players!!
2023 ALASKA AIRLINES PREMIER COLLEGE ID CAMP
In collaboration with Alaska Rush SC, Cook Inlet SC will co-host the 2023 Alaska Airlines Premier College ID Camp, its purpose to offer incoming freshman through senior high school aged players exposure and an opportunity to be seen by some of the nation’s top collegiate men’s and women’s coaches over a two-day period in June. Coaches will come from D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and Junior Colleges and will work directly with players over a series of training sessions for the duration of the camp.
The 2023 Alaska Airlines Premier College ID Camp will take place over two days, Monday & Tuesday, at Kincaid Park Soccer Stadium commencing June 5 and concluding June 6, between 8am-5pm for players born between 2009-2005.
For more information and to register for the 2023 Alaska Airlines Premier College ID Camp, please visit HERE.
TOPSOCCER
Some of Cook Inlet SC’s finest volunteered their time this past February-March for the 2023 Alaska Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program.
For those who don’t know, US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities.
The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, who has a mental or physical disability. The goal of the program is to enable all young athletes with disabilities to become valued and successful members of the US Youth Soccer and Alaska Youth Soccer Family.
For more information and how to become a Buddy for future TOPSoccer sessions, please visit HERE.
REGION IV ODP CAMP
Seventeen of Cook Inlet SC’s finest have been invited to the Region IV ODP Camp in Salt Lake City, UT in July.
CONGRATULATIONS to Abakar Abdu Adoum, Brooklyn Bailey, Addison Bailey, Gabriel Ballesteros, Jensenia Cortes, Kinsey Dufour, Taylor Fisk, Addysen Gasser, Shibiru Hoffman, Faith Hughes, Maddison Kukuk, Shayla Lee, Meadow Lewis, Zophia Lucero, Rocco Von Marees, Ebrahim Shihahideh, and Emery Waller!
Your CISC family ❤️’s you and are so proud of you for earning this honor!!
2022-2024 COMPETITIVE KITS
Cook Inlet Soccer Club Competitive Kits for the 2022-2024 cycle are NOW available to order from Tursi Soccer. Please click HERE for more information and to place your order.
All players will be required to purchase a backpack and a training kit.
For players born between, 2013-2015, this will be all that is required to purchase. For players born 2012 and earlier, white and navy game uniforms will also need to be purchased as well.
Additionally, certain teams may require additional items so many sure to check with your Coach and Team Manager before ordering.
UPSL
The United Premier Soccer League is Alaska’s top soccer league for adults and the top destination for CISC senior players looking to elevate their game.
Tryout dates for Cook Inlet SC’s UPSL Men’s & Women’s teams for the 2023 Season will be announced later this Spring.
In the meantime, for more information regarding Cook Inlet SC’s UPSL teams, please e-mail CISC’s UPSL Team Manager Cat Jörgensen Rüesch at cat@cookinletsc.com.
Support CISC while you shop!
When you shop at smile.amazon.com and select Cook Inlet Soccer Club as your recipient, Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to the club— no fees, no extra cost and your regular Amazon login works. Just remember to select CISC as your nonprofit of choice and shop through smile.amazon.com.
Send in your action shots!
Don’t forget to send your action shots to pr@cookinletsc.com along with details about the submission. Please limit submissions to three per event. Only clear videos and photos will be considered for posting.
CISC has sent more players to the next level than any other club in the state. Check out our club alumni currently playing, and click on their school to see their latest stats.
Did we forget about a Cook Inlet SC alumnus who is still playing? Send updates and photos to Tim Valesko.
Cook Inlet SC Board of Directors Meeting
The next Cook Inlet SC Board of Directors Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 11 at 6:30pm at the Cook Inlet SC Offices.
In the meantime, for public comments or to send a message to the full Board, please e-mail board@cookinletsc.com.
Additionally, if you are interested in the affairs of the club and have a few hours to volunteer each month, Cook Inlet SC is actively recruiting board and committee members to help takes us to the next level.
Interested in sponsoring Alaska’s premier youth sports organization?
As a 501(c)(3) CISC is dependent on donors and sponsorships to continue delivering the best soccer programs in the state. We have tax-deductible sponsorship packages to meet every budget and are committed to making sure sponsorship are mutually beneficial. To discuss your tax-deductible sponsorship today, email pr@cookinletsc.com.
Cook Inlet Soccer Club (501)(c)(3) | 907-344-PLAY | Email