Ayso

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 88 program, based in Glendale and La Crescenta, will be conducting the last day of its 2009-10 fall season early bird registration for children ages 4 through 18 on Saturday, April 25 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) at Clark Magnet School, 4747 New York Ave., La Crescenta. Early bird registration fee for all divisions (through April 25) is $90 (includes uniform, pictures, trophy, and yearbook). Region 88?s website at www.ayso88.org has specific registration information, as well as other information regarding the program.

Hamlet Nalbandyan Registrations for the 2002 season at Region 88 -- which covers Glendale and La Crescenta -- of the American Youth Soccer Organization set a record in the number of teams and players. As of now, 222 teams will be playing soccer in September, when the season begins. The number of players registering for the 2002 season topped 2,600, making AYSO the largest youth athletic program in Glendale. Registration is still open to any child and there are no tryouts or special skills requirements.

The Mad Monkeys, the Pasadena-Altadena-La Cañada Flintridge AYSO Girls Under 10 "Area" All Star Team, finished the season undefeated by winning their playoff matches. During the regular season, the Monkeys had a perfect 7-0-0 record. They scored more goals than any other team and had the fewest goals scored against them. The Mad Monkeys began the playoffs on Feb. 27 with a 4-0 morning victory over South Pasadena. The goals were scored by four different team members. In the afternoon, the Mad Monkeys played the other Pasadena "Area" team for the championship.

Jammin' Awesome Girls still winning in Sectionals The Jammin' Awesome Girls beat the El Monte Stars 3-2 in a shootout Thursday, with goals from Kendra Fellows, Julia Klein and Yesenia Acevedo to qualify for the AYSO Area C Girls' Under-12 semifinals. A shootout ensued after the teams played to a 0-0 tie through regulation and overtime with Lauren Dauphin, Sara Howell, Kim Cox, Ann Kim and Brenda Charles playing outstanding defense. The Jammin' Awesome Girls fell to Arcadia on Saturday and finished with a 17-2-2 record, taking third place in Area C play.

AYSO preregistration set to take place Region 88 AYSO will be conducting registration for the upcoming season. To guarantee a spot on a team in the Fall, go to the Region 88 website www.ayso88.org and follow the instructions to pre-register — including printing the completed registration form — then bring the printed form to one of the walk-in registrations on Saturday and April 19 at Clark Magnet School before paying the $80 per player registration fee. Region 88 board voted at its recent meeting to hold fees for the 2008 Fall soccer season at the same level for the sixth year in a row. The Early Bird Registration Fee for all divisions (Under 5 through Under 19)

Emily Lanigan American Youth Soccer Organization kicks off a new season with 200 more local players than last year. According to former local region commissioner Bob De Rosa, this season is no small affair. Informal practice began Thursday and official opening day ceremonies will be held Sept. 7 on the football field at Glendale Community College. Locally, AYSO is represented by region 88, which covers anywhere from La Canada Flintridge to Burbank.

Clara Martinez was born Clara Cano, on Oct 21, 1956 in Fabens,Texas. She graduated fromEastBakersfieldHigh Schoolin 1974 and attended California State University Fresno where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Administration in 1979. She completed her education with a Master's Degree in Social Work in 1982. After earning her Masters, she became employed at Carl Warren and Company, Claims management inBakersfieldCalifornia.  Following relocation toGlendaleCalifornia she worked for Blair and Company as a Claims Manager.

Apathetic observers have transformed into rabid fans. People are learning names they can't pronounce, everyone all over the world is talking about the same thing, but in different languages and parks are starting to look more like pitches as more soccer balls seem to be flying around. There is no doubt the World Cup has left a mark on the United States this year, as the U.S. national team made it to the round of 16 for the first time since 1994, but not only that, American soccer now has a viral video to their credit.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — The second and final day of the sixth annual Leo Nedeff Memorial Soccer Tournament happened to land on Father's Day. The appropriate nature of the coincidence wasn't lost on many of the volunteers, coaches and players who attended and participated in the American Youth Soccer Organization tournament at the Glendale Sports Complex named in honor of Nedeff, who was a dedicated family man in his own right, as well being widely...

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — As a sophomore at UC Santa Barbara, Brittany Bagheri has plenty of responsibilities that she must attend to. While juggling her busy schedule, which includes her studies and playing on an intramural girls’ soccer team, Bagheri will make the 100-mile trek south back to the Glendale area to participate on the American Youth Soccer Organization 88 girls’ under-19 team. There’s a purpose dear to her heart for making the journey — to honor her former mentor, Leo Nedeff.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Whistles chirped every few seconds across the lengths of the four fields, which featured plenty of goals scored and neat defensive performances under a light drizzle Saturday afternoon. It’s the exact environment that Leo Nedeff held most dear until the former volunteer coach, referee, administrator and mentor for American Youth Soccer Organization Region 88 — serving Glendale and La Crescenta — succumbed to mesothelioma on July 11, 2004 at 72. Nedeff’s name still resonates around the area.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Now in its fifth year, the Leo Nedeff Memorial Soccer Tournament, hosted by American Youth Soccer Organization Region 88, has grown too big to be contained in one weekend. A Glendale and La Crescenta institution, which was begun in 2005 to honor the memory of Nedeff and his many contributions to AYSO Region 88 as a youth soccer coach, referee and administrator, the tournament held its girls’ competition Saturday and Sunday at the Glendale Sports Complex and Crescenta Valley High.

GLENDALE — The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene .   MAYOR QUINTERO COMMENDS LOCAL SQUAD After claiming an AYSO State Championship on March 29 at UC Davis, it was only fitting that the Region 88 Under 14 Boys Sectional All-Star team got some local recognition. The Glendale-based team, coached by Serge Grakasian , received a commendation from Mayor Frank Quintero at the Glendale City Council meeting on Tuesday. The team, which had an undefeated all-star season, had a coaching staff that included Anthony Friedman and Jeff Parent . The team consisted of: Russell Carpenter , Rani Dimashki , Andrew Friedman , Nareg Ghazikhanian , Allen Grakasian , Aaron Gutierrez , Pablo Hernandez , Luis Lopez , Graham Miketta , Uriel Orellana , Nicholas Parent , Cole Rademacher , Matthew Ryan , Pablo Sotillo and Aris Yeghiazaryan . AYSO Region 88 is an all-volunteer organization based in Glendale and La Crescenta.

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 88 program, based in Glendale and La Crescenta, will be conducting the last day of its 2009-10 fall season early bird registration for children ages 4 through 18 on Saturday, April 25 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) at Clark Magnet School, 4747 New York Ave., La Crescenta. Early bird registration fee for all divisions (through April 25) is $90 (includes uniform, pictures, trophy, and yearbook). Region 88?s website at www.ayso88.org has specific registration information, as well as other information regarding the program.