The soccer recruiting period is in full swing and the Flyer womens soccer team has several commitments on tap for the 2004 season. The signing period isn’t until February, but we already know many of the names prepared to send their Letter Of Intent in to the soccer office. One of those is local product Courtney Sirmans, a defender and member of former UD assistant coach Greg Sheen’s Dayton Soccer Academy (DSA) program. Sirmans, a former player at Centerville HS, elected to play for Sheen and her DSA teammates year-round, a decision several other Elk players chose – including other talented players from other high schools in the Dayton area. It was a decision that sparked some controversy, and perhaps had a little something to do with Sheen’s ultimate departure from the Dayton program. What’s certain however is Sirmans is happy to have the recruiting process behind her with her sights set on the highly-successful Flyer program.

Sirmans is a five-time member Ohio ODP state team and helped DSA win the State Cup in 2001, 2002, and 2003 – the first three years of the DSA program; a feat that took many talented club programs by surprise. Sirmans is a strong student in the classroom and aside from soccer admits to a love of throwing pottery and painting. Her DSA teammate Gretchen Giner, is also headed to Dayton.

The Facts:

Name: Courtney Sirmans
Major: Undecided
Position: Defender
Jersey Number: 5
Height: 6ft 0in
Square Posts or Round: Round
Favorite Boot: Nike Vapor
Toughest Opponents: Colorado Rush SC, Univ. Tennessee, Univ. Illinois
Best Soccer Memory: Winning State Cup in DSA’s first year

UDP: You played initially at CHS, then elected to play exclusively for DSA and former UD assisant coach Greg Sheen. What factors went into that decision and what kind of influence was Sheen on your soccer and perhaps later decision to choose Dayton?

CS: Greg Sheen played a big factor in why I played club ball over high school ball, but he wasn’t the only factor. I had to think what was best for me, meaning which one would prepare me best for DI college soccer. Clearly the answer to that question was to play for DSA. Centerville is very good at soccer and sometimes it was fun, but the competition in high school is nothing compared to what you would get in club. I have had my fair share of good coaches, but Greg Sheen is by far the best coach I have ever had. I don’t know how to explain his kind of coaching. He is why I am still playing soccer, he makes the sport more fun to play year after year. If it wasn’t for Greg pointing out to me of how good a soccer team UD was I might of not even really watched one of their games. Greg Sheen has made the biggest influence in my soccer life and outside of my soccer life.

UDP: There’s a lot of debate about players passing up a chance to play HS ball in order to train exclusively with clubs. Did you receive any negative feedback from your decison — perhaps from coaches or former teammates in school — and has the opportunity to train exclusively with DSA been everything you expected it to be?

CS: I never really talked to Coach Skelton [Centerville Elks girls head soccer coach] or the other coaches about my leaving. It was more of an understanding when I left Centerville. I know the other girls called him up and explain why they made their decisions; I did not do that. I never got talked bad about from former teammates, but when someone outside of soccer would ask them why I wasn’t playing they would simply say I quit. I would’ve liked them to explain the situation because a lot of people have no idea what a big thing our team, DSA, has done. Like I said before, playing with DSA these past four years has been the most fun I have ever had in my life. I don’t think I have smiled more or laughed more then when I was at practices or tournaments. The team definitely reflects the coach in this situation. When I have to leave DSA for UD it will be a very hard thing to do. We have grown to more then just a team and I think that is why we do so well in tournaments. Our team chemistry is like no other team I have been on. Choosing to play DSA for fall instead of high school was definitely the best decision for me to choose.

UDP: What was your first impression of UD and Coach Tucker and what impressions did they leave with you in the recruiting process that made you put Dayton at the top of your list? What other schools were on your short list?

CS: The other schools on my list were from #9 in the nation the University of Tennessee, University of Toledo, Ohio University, Butler, Kent State, etc. My top two choices were between UD and Tennessee. It was a very hard decision because this is not only where I am going to play soccer this is where I am going to go to school for the next four years. UD was closer to home and that was really the deciding factor. My dad had past away a year ago to cancer, and I wanted to stay close to the family because they are number one in life. So if I went to UD I would be living twenty minutes away from home. Coach Tucker was my coach for ODP this past year and he is a very good coach, he definitely knows what he is doing. The staff at UD is wonderful and they always called me. I talked to all three [coaches] before making my final decision and it comforted me in knowing all three wanted me to be on the team.

UDP: If you had to handicap your game, what are your strengths and weaknesses at the moment and what singular quality do you bring to the Flyer program that fans should look for as your ‘calling card’ when they see you play for the first time?

CS: Strengths would have to be running the sideline to attack the goal from a right defender position. I am six-foot so I pretty much dominate in the air, and I think that will be the one thing the fans catch on to. Weaknesses: I am not very strong, I’m getting there though, because for almost a year now I have been doing weight lifting with the UD strength and condition coach, Mark Thobe.

UDP: What role on the Flyer team do you see yourself playing next year?

CS: I think I will definitely be a leader by example because I am not a real vocal person. Also, I definitely want to go further in the NCAA tournament this year so I think my determination will help pull the team along.

UDP: What are your soccer plans for the spring and summer? Tournaments? ODP? Setting fitness goals for fall practice?

CS: ODP is over for me as my age group has maxed out. My spring and summer plans are to re-capture the State Cup title again for the fourth straight year in a row. DSA definitely wants to go further in the regional tournament, and maybe even national tournament. Greg Sheen keeps us in good fitness shape. We have hard-core fitness every day that we practice, and this winter is our annual fitness challenge and it is really grueling.

UDP: What’s your opinion of the newly renovated Baujan Field? Do facilities and fan support really play a part in a college decision, or is that kind of stuff overrated?

CS: I think Baujan Field is awesome after being renovated. I think facilities play a role in a college decision but not fan support, at least that’s the way it was for me. I don’t care if a lot of fans come to the games; if they do that’s awesome. But, I know if no one doesn’t come I wont be disappointed because I will play the same way with or without people watching me. I don’t try to impress fans when I am on the field. I simply try to play the best I can.