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This is the last chance for the senior girls to capture soccer gold, after three seasons of being agonizingly close.
By LAURA LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 28, 2003
CLEARWATER -- It was hardly worthy of Nostradamus.
Clearwater Central Catholic soccer player Jessica Hallgren walked up to a reporter during a December tournament, immediately began sharing the team's strengths, weaknesses and accomplishments, then threw in a prediction:
"You know, we're going to state."
And so here the Marauders are, in the final four, to the surprise of no one. After all, today's semifinal against Jacksonville Bolles in Tampa marks the Marauders' ninth trip to the final four in 14 years. About the only surprise is that the girls aren't joined by the boys team. For the first time since 1995, the boys didn't even make the state playoffs.
Being part of such tradition, Hallgren said people have come to expect success instead of congratulating the Marauders for their consistency.
"People say, "But you're CCC.' But we're a different team," Hallgren said. "It's unusual to always get in the final four and not get credit for it."
This class of seniors has made history as only the fourth CCC class to advance as far as the semifinals all four years, according to coach Tom Typrowicz. But this weekend they can make history in another way: by losing. The Marauders haven't won a state title since 1999 and this could be the first time since 1992 that a CCC senior class graduated without winning girls soccer gold. The Marauders have banners from 1993, 1997 and 1999.
Typrowicz said the girls were made aware of the fact two years ago when a class of boys went four years without winning the state crown.
"The girls became very conscious of that," Typrowicz said and added that just making it to state is noteworthy. "To make it all four years, it is a very special thing. There are a lot of schools that would like to get that once, let alone four times."
Last year CCC was the state runner-up, losing in the championship game to Plantation American Heritage. In each of the previous two seasons, the Marauders lost in the semifinal to the eventual state champion.
"You go to Tallahassee. You go to Tampa. It's been such a challenge for us," said senior Liz Simmons, reflecting on past final fours that ended in disappointment.
"We never walked off the field and felt that we could have played better," Hallgren said.
But she still remembers what it was like last year coming in second.
"You're standing on the field. You don't know whether to cry or be mad or who to be mad at," Hallgren said. "We just lost, and we were so close. We were the best, and that day we weren't."
Hallgren said these seniors are inspired and she knew early in the season they would get a another chance. The underclassmen say the history helps motivate them.
"I think (the seniors have) heard alumni from years past talk about states," junior Lisa Matuska said. "They've never had that one feeling. The feeling is so close, but you can never experience it yourself. I hope everyone works hard to give it to them."
What: Clearwater Central Catholic plays Jacksonville Bolles in the Class A state semifinal.
When/Where: 7:30 today at Ed Radice Sports Complex, 10710 S Mobley Road, Tampa
Getting There: From the north: Take Tampa Road east toward Tampa. Turn left onto Race Track Road and after about 5 miles turn right onto S Mobley Road. From the south: Take Interstate 275 and exit State Road 60 going west toward the airport (also known as N Memorial Highway). Merge onto Veterans Expressway/Florida 589 going north. Exit onto Ehrlich Road and take the left ramp toward Gunn Highway; Ehrlich turns into Gunn. Turn left on S Mobley Road.
What's Next: If the Marauders win, they will play in the state championship game at 7:30 Saturday