Palisadian Ali Riley Lives a Dream in New Zealand’s Olympic Soccer Debut

Competing in the Olympics is every athlete’s dream and lifelong Palisadian Ali Riley made her dream a reality this month in Beijing. The 20-year-old soccer sensation started at forward for New Zealand’s women’s national team, the Football Ferns, who qualified for the Games for the first time in the country’s history. The Ferns went 0-2-1 in their group and failed to advance out of pool play but Riley returned home from China last Thursday with memories that will last a lifetime. She shared some of her experiences on and off the field with Palisadian-Post Sports Editor Steve Galluzzo: PP: How were you chosen to play for New Zealand? AR: My dad was born in Christchurch on the South Island, so I have dual citizenship. I was invited to play for their Under-20 team at the World Championships in Russia and things went from there. I was so happy when I was told I had made the Olympic roster. It’s truly an honor to be selected for the national team. PP: What were your expectations going into the Olympics? AR: I knew it would be tough to medal because all the teams are so strong. The biggest disappointment was our first game against Japan. We needed to win and we were leading 2-0 but they came back to tie us. They just lost in the semifinals so obviously they’re an awesome team. PP: Did you participate in the Opening Ceremonies? AR: Unfortunately no. Soccer was the first sport to start and we had a game the day before that we had to prepare for, but they had a big TV in the lobby of our hotel and we watched some of it from there. We wore skirts and blazers and shirts with silver ferns on them. PP: It must make you proud to know you assisted on the team’s first-ever goal in the Olympics. Can you describe the play? AR: Actually, I’m more proud that we were the first team to qualify. As for the goal, someone played me a great ball, I beat my defender on the right wing and crossed it on the ground to Kirsty Yallop. It’s awesome that she scored because she’s a native Kiwi. PP: What was it like playing that last game against the United States? AR: To be honest it wasn’t that big a deal, other than the fact that I know a lot of their players. Their center back Rachel Buehler is one of my best friends. She just graduated from Stanford. And their backup goalie [Nicole Barnhart] was my volunteer coach for two seasons. It was a sad way for us to end the tournament–they scored in the first minute and seized the momentum right away. But I have no regrets. We really bonded and I hope to be back in 2012 in London. Once you play for one country you can’t play for another, but even if I could I wouldn’t want to. New Zealand is my team. PP: Besides the games themselves, what was your biggest thrill? AR: I’d have to say meeting the [New Zealand] men’s team. They played in Shengyang their first two games and we went to watch the first half of their game against Brazil. They gave us an amazing “haka,” which is a spiritual chant that the All Blacks [rugby] team used to dance to. Traditionally, it’s a challenge to enemies and a welcome to friends. PP: How is playing in the Olympics different than playing in the PAC-10? AR: For me, the biggest difference is that I’ll be playing a totally new system. In the Olympics we played a 4-4-2 formation and I was one of the forwards whereas Stanford uses a 4-4-3. The college level is so high, I know that now being a junior. I gave my all for New Zealand but it’s equally important to play my best for Stanford. PP: Did you get a chance to mingle with the other athletes in the Village? AR: Yes, a little bit. One thing that was cool is we got to meet the Brazilian men’s team. They were at the same hotel so we went tearing down to their floor. They were very friendly, especially Ronaldinho, Anderson and Marcelo. We got pictures with them and they signed one of my jerseys. PP: How does it feel to finally be back home in Pacific Palisades? AR: Besides the jet lag it’s been nice. I’ve been gone since June 10. We did a lot of traveling even before the Olympics… South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, China, Singapore, then back to China. In fact, I left Stanford early and had to take my last final while I was in South Korea for the Peace Queen Cup. The funny thing is I won’t be home long. I head back up to school Thursday and we have our first game Sunday against Pacific. PP: What did you think of the Pali Blues winning the W-League championship right before the Olympics? AR: Unfortunately, I didn’t get to watch any of their games but it’s great that we have such a strong women’s team in the Palisades. I can’t wait to see how the new pro league turns out.

Since Steve Bellamy founded the Palisades Tennis Center in 1997 it has evolved into one of the elite junior training facilities in the country. That reputation was put to the test last week when the PTC hosted a USTA Junior Open tournament and by the time it was over local players left little doubt that the moniker is well-deserved. PTC boys swept all five singles championships and added three doubles titles in an event that attracted 200 juniors from across the nation, including players from Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Virginia and New York. “The Pacific Palisades has become the best tennis community in America,” ATP Tour player Vince Spadea said at the inaugural “Shotgun 21” event, held two weekends ago at the PTC. “If we could make every park in America like the Palisades Tennis Center, tennis would be bigger than the NFL.” Living up to Spadea’s claim, local players stole the show on their home courts. In fact, all four semifinalists in the boys 16s and 18s singles divisions were from the PTC. The biggest winner was Robbie Bellamy, who captured three titles. He dropped a mere six games in his first four rounds, then rallied to beat Victor Vu of Las Vegas, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 in the final of the boys 14s. Bellamy then teamed with Alex Giannini and the two 13-year-olds won both the 14s and 16s doubles divisions. The 16s title was particularly impressive in that the Palisades duo knocked off one of Southern California’s best 16-year-olds, Burbank’s Trevor Campbell, and his partner Paxton Samammitr of Panorama City, 6-2, 6-3 in the finals. Lucas Bellamy, fresh off victories in his previous two tournaments, continued his hot streak by winning all eight of his sets in the 10s singles division, then paired with Diego Nava of Valencia to reach the doubles final, won by Palisadians Gilbert Chung and Ben Goldberg. Rising PTC star Brandon Michaels dominated the 12s singles, breezing through the draw without dropping a set. With spectators packing the hillside to watch, Michaels beat Michael Genender of Los Angeles, 7-5, 6-4, in the final. Palisasdians Ryan Wilson and Thomas Ryan also made the semifinals. Although the boys 16s draw included only six Palisadians, the final four consisted entirely of PTC players, with Cristobal Rivera beating Giannini in straight sets in the finals. In the boys 18s final, Danny Moss ousted fellow PTC trainee and Crossroads High standout Clay Thompson in a third-set tiebreaker. Moss is headed for Pepperdine next year on a full scholarship. Palisadian Grace Danco won the girls 10s title, beating PTC players Bridget Stokdyk and Sophie Bendetti before edging Diana Silvers in a third-set tiebreaker. Top-seeded Krystal Hansard reached the finals of the girls 16s and fellow Palisadian Samantha Kogan, the No. 2 seed, reached the semifinals. “The players from our program totally dominated this event,” PTC Head Pro Jon Neeter said. “I think it speaks to how strong the players are who train here everyday.” The previous week, the PTC hosted USTA-sanctioned novice and junior satellite tournaments. Lucas Bellamy won the boys 12s satellite, Elizabeth Ryan upset fellow PTC player Perri Zaret in the girls 14s final and Corpus Christi student Christian Gambale won the boys 10s satellite. PTC player Charlie Hollingsworth won the boys 12s novice division.

Heading into his second season, one of the top priorities for Palisades High head football coach Kelly Loftus was hiring experienced coordinators to assist him with the development of his players. So who better to bring aboard to run the Dolphins’ offense than the man who spent years devising schemes to stop it’former Palisadian and longtime Westchester coach Larry Wein. “Ron coached with me at Hamilton,” Wein said, referring to Dolphins’ defensive coordinator Ron Evans. “At UCLA, Ron played with Kenny Norton, Jr., who played for me at Westchester. He asked if I’d be interested in coaching at Palisades. I talked with Coach Loftus and here I am.” As offensive coordinator, Wein will have a talented group to work with–a rapidly improving line, five or six fast receivers and a highly-touted sophomore quarterback. The question marks for him are in the backfield, for Wein believes success lies in a team’s ability to run. “I like what I’ve seen so far and I think this group is going to surprise a lot of people,” Wein said. “It’s a good group of kids and I’ve enjoyed working with them. They have real good attitudes and are willing to learn.” Wein moved to Cheviot Hills in 2001, 11 years after his younger son David graduated from Westchester. After stepping down at Westchester he took over the program at Hamilton and built it back to respectability. He retired after three seasons at L.A. Hamilton, but last year volunteered at Paul Revere, where both of his sons attended to middle school. He has over 200 wins at the varsity level. “I’ve been fortunate to coach some great players over the years,” Wein said. Among them were Larry Triplett, an All-American tackle who played in the NFL; Aaron Cox, a former wide receiver for the L.A. Rams; and Kevin Johnson, who played tackle for the Oakland Raiders. A Fairfax High graduate, Wein played quarterback at Cal State Los Angeles. He began coaching City football in 1971, where he stayed for 10 years before taking over the head job at Westchester. There he would rack up 162 wins in 20 seasons, including the City championship in 1987. Wein also guided the Comets to numerous league titles’quite often at Palisades’ expense. “It seemed like it was always us and Pali competing for the league title,” Wein remembers. “They had some nice teams, talented teams. I think the difference is we were a little more physical and we were better defensively.” The irony for Wein during his days at Westchester is that the school he grew so accustomed to beating was just minutes from the house on Corsica he lived in for 25 years. In fact, his older son Craig Stewart played cornerback at PaliHi, graduating in 1978. “Craig played with Jay Schroeder,” Wein recalled. “Back then, 80 percent of the school district was familiar with football. Now it’s more like 20 percent. So there are fewer kids playing football.” Ironically, Wein always coached against Palisades when he lived here and now that he’s moved away, he’s coaching at the school he used to consider his archrival. “I raised my family here so it’s nice to be back,” he said. Right now, though, Wein prefers to focus on the task at hand: getting his offense ready for the season. Palisades plays Washington in a scrimmage on September 4 and opens the season against Hollywood Sept. 12 at Stadium by the Sea.

Walk by the Palisades Tennis Center courts these days and you never know who you’ll find practicing serves or playing live ball with the juniors. For 10 years now, numerous pro players have trained there in the summertime to prepare for the circuit’s hard court season and the latest to show up at the public courts on Alma Real was Anna Chakvetadze, a Russian currently ranked 11th on the WTA Tour. The blonde-haired, hard-hitting baseliner has the same first name as fellow Russian-born player Anna Kournikova–and the game to match. Chakvetadze, one of a talented crop of Russian women making her mark in the sport, hopes to distinguish herself by winning majors. A great place to start would be the U.S. Open, which begins Monday in Flushing, New York. “She was out here hitting for a week, getting ready for the [U.S.] Open,” PTC founder Steve Bellamy said. “How cool is that? One of the top women in the game right now chose to come here to the Palisades. She’s an exciting player on the rise and definitely someone who can be a factor in the Open.” Chakvetadze, 21, was born in Moscow and turned pro in 2003. She reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 5 in 2007 when she won four events and reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open and the quarterfinals of the Australian and French Opens. Last Friday, she departed the PTC for New Haven, Connecticut, where she was seeded No. 1 for this week’s Pilot Pen tournament. Other notable pros who have played or trained at the PTC this summer include the ATP Tour’s Zack Fleishman, Vince Spadea and Phillip King and the WTA’s Jill Craybas.

This past winter Amanda Lisberger was scoring goals by the bucketful as a senior striker on the Brentwood soccer team. Now she’s a freshman at the University of Texas, and although she wears a different uniform she hasn’t lost her uncanny nack for scoring big goals’or winning big awards. Lisberger made a triumphant return to Los Angeles last Saturday, tallying a goal and an assist in the Longhorns’ 3-1 exhibition victory over host Loyola Marymount. There to watch was her older sister of sorts, fellow Pacific Palisades soccer sensation Ali Riley, who had just returned from Beijing, where she played for the New Zealand national team. After feeding teammate Niki Arlitt for the go-ahead goal 27 minutes into the second half, Lisberger didn’t have to wait long to notch the first goal of her collegiate career. Just 28 seconds later, she chipped in a nifty pass from Stephanie Logterman to close out the scoring. “Amanda came off the bench and provided some spark to our attack,” Texas Coach Chris Petrucelli said. “She really created Niki Arlitt’s goal by getting the ball to the end line and then played a great combination with Stephanie Logterman to chip the ball past their keeper.” To top off her magical week, Lisberger was named to the 2008 EA Sports All-American team.

It’s soccer season again in AYSO Region 69, where fall practices officially begin next Monday. Commissioner Debbie Held said many coaches are still on vacation and haven’t called their players yet, but should do so by September 2. There are small wait lists in most age divisions, so those interested in signing up should visit www.ayso69.org. Held said she anticipates 50-80 drops. First games will be played on Saturday, Sept 13, Uniform Distribution Day will take place on a Saturday and Picture Day will take place on a Sunday. On Saturday, Sept. 6, a Beginning Referee Course will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Palisades High in room B101. At 9 a.m., field set up clinics will be held at various fields and from noon-2 p.m. will be uniforem distribution at Barrington Park. At that time, coaches must turn in the Parent volunteer list and missing Kid Zone Pledges in order to receive the team uniforms. That night, board members, coaches and referees of older divisions are invited to a Los Angeles Galaxy game. Sunday, September 28, is picture day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the PaliHi baseball field. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, Chivas USA and the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks are sponsoring soccer clinics at the Palisades Recreation Center for players ages 5-15. Cost is $5 and includes a ball and a t-shirt. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, Will Rogers State Park will be the site for a Will Rogers Birthday Celebration and all AYSO families are invited.

Coaches are needed immediately for fall flag football and winter basketball because the Palisades Recreation Center is changing to a draft system. “All of our sports starting with this fall will be a draft,” Rec Center Director Eric Haas said. “The park will no longer accept requests for people wanting to be on a team with a friend or wanting a certain coach.” Haas has set up mandatory evaluations on September 6 for football and September 27 for basketball, and needs his coaches to be at those sessions. “Our center should be doing a draft,” he said. “This is the first center that I’ve worked at that they didn’t.” Haas also plans to change the basketball schedule. Even though the season starts January 3, he is already taking applications. Haas plans to have teams practice for 10 weeks before the season begins. “It will allow more time for the teams to congeal,” he said. “Practices will be once a week. Hopefully that will up the competitive level.” Haas says it will be possible for youth to play both flag football and basketball, but that games would take preference over practices. All children participating in the park program must have a birth certificate on file. Those who registered this summer will not need to re-submit it. Two other changes will be enforced: the refund rule and the registration rule. Anyone registering after the cut-off date will automatically go on the waiting list. “I’m sticking to the dates,” Haas said. “People can register online, they don’t even have to come in.” He warned, however, that home registration will close several days earlier than the cut-off date so he can determine the number signed up. To register, log on to www.laparks.org/eregistration.htm and click on “GO STRAIGHT TO ONLINE REGISTRATION” in the second paragraph. Mike Dickerson stepped down as the Rec Center’s sports coordinator, although he will continue officiating. Karen Shirley became the new coordinator last month. Haas reminds visitors that the Rec Center has an excellent roller hockey instructor, Ethan Rill. “We really want boys and girls and beginners. It doesn’t matter about the skill level,” Haas said. “Rill has the patience. It’s a good program and I’d love to have kids take advantage of it.” Youth dodge ball on Fridays, which was free last year, will now cost $60 for the session, which runs from October through December from 7-10 p.m. The skate park is set up on the outdoor basketball court on Sundays from 12-4 p.m. and will cost $65 for the October to December session. “The reason I have to charge money is that it takes three staff members to move everything and set it up,” Haas said. “The fence around it is a rental, which I also have to pay for. Supposedly there were funds set aside, but they’re long gone. “It costs at least $140 per person to break even, but I’ve set it at $65,” Haas added. “It’s my last ditch effort to keep it open.” He wouldn’t mind seeing funds to put in a real skate park and is aware of neighbors’ concerns about noise. “It could be an inside skate park,” he said. The Rec Center is also going to bring back its preschool program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There will be two sessions, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The sessions will be limited to the first 10 in each class and the cost for the October-December classes is $300. Toddler time will be Mondays from 10 to noon and targets 2- and 3-year-olds. “It’s for kids who have a hard time separating from their parents,” Haas said. “This class will help prepare them for preschool.” The large gym is open Monday through Friday from 9-10 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to closing unless it is permitted out or on holidays.