Player Showcase: Chicago Red Stars Kealia (Ohai) Watt

Photo by Mike Kiel, LJR Sports Media
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

Reprinted with permission from LJR Sports Media

HERRIMAN, UTAH (March 27, 2020) Today starts a new era for former Houston Dash captain Kealia Ohai, now Kealia Watt (shown right), after her marriage to Houston Texans star JJ Watt in February. She takes the pitch with her new team the Chicago Red Stars. Traded in the off season, Watt, a high school star in Utah, returns to the scene of some of her most fondest soccer memories in Salt Lake City only this time with Chicago the 2019 NWSL runner-ups in the NWSL Challenge Cup.

The last six months have been strange for Watt and the NWSL. She arrived in Chicago to much fanfare apartment hunting back in January. She then returned to Houston to get ready for the season before arriving back in Chicago in March and that's when things got a little crazy. COVID-19 raised its ugly head and things became uncertain for everyone worldwide notwithstanding professional athletes.

 “When everything started it was the weekend and we thought we literally would have the weekend off and we would be back in on Monday, that everything would just blow over,” Watt told the Chicago Tribune last week. “But then two months later we were still in quarantine. It was wild to have soccer taken away from us, and trying to train on our own was difficult.”

Although most thought the pandemic would be over in a relatively short period of time, it was not.

“The original date was a couple of weeks, so we waited until then and then we waited a little longer and then I finally went back to Houston to train,” she said. “All of it was pretty weird timing, and throughout we didn’t have a firm date of when we’d be back. You would train and think, OK, I have three weeks until we get back, so you schedule your training for that. And then a few days before that they would delay it more. It was such a weird time. The whole world was having such a difficult time.”

But all that is behind Watt and the NWSL as the Challenge Cup begins tomorrow with defending NWSL champion NC Courage facing perennial power Portland in the opening match. Watt and Chicago will follow that game with a match against the Washington Spirit.

In a media Zoom press conference on Friday, Dames shared with Houston based LJR Sports Media his thoughts on Watt.

"She is significantly better then I thought she was though I knew she was really good. She has more tools in her tool chest then I knew. She is one of our top six players, so unselfish. She is super clean, turns corners and is not afraid to do anything."

Watt, the franchise leading scorer for Houston with 28 in 114 appearances is one of the players that Dames and company will be relying on to replace Samantha Kerr who left for Chelsea in the Women's Premier League in England. Kerr had 34 goals in 40 games with the Red Stars.

Chicago with "Captain K" is once again expected to be one of the teams to beat in 2020.

MLS gears up for a new start

Photo by Mike Kiel, LJR Sports Photographed
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 27, 2020) 

Houston Dynamo coach Tab Ramos addressed the media following the announcement by MLS Soccer Commissioner Don Garber’s of the leagues return to live action. The announcement came on Wednesday morning one day ahead of the team’s full competition training session on June 11, 2020. The winner gets a 2021 Champions League automatic berth.

The Houston Dynamo and Ramos feel as if they have an advantage considering Ramos’ work with the national team over the previous eight years. As a coach for the national team, a lot of preparation was done prior to the players arriving at a camp. They were a;ways hungry for competition. He expects his players to be as well.

“First, I think it is very exciting for the players. I really can’t wait to see them tomorrow, because as they come in to training it is the first day where they can actually have contact tomorrow. I think it will be exciting for them, obviously these type of athletes at this level they are incredibly competitive and not having had the opportunity to compete day-in and day-out, I’m sure that is something they miss a lot. That is the first part of it, and then obviously seeing the tournament - you know the way it is going to fall, our first game could be anytime between the (eighth) of July and the 11th of July. As you likely know, the schedule and the draw comes out tomorrow so once we know that we will know the exact date and we will start working towards that.”

The tournament is set along the World Cup format including a $1.1 million dollar payout. It begins on July 8th. The draw for the 54 game tournament will be held on June 11, 2020 at which time the Houston side will know how much time they have to prepare fore the tournament.

“I feel good about it. I was afraid we were going to get less time to prepare. I think a month is actually a good time to be well prepared to play our first game. Obviously, we have been together now for about three weeks, but the players have not been able to compete. Physically we are starting to get them to a good level, but now the playing part is the most difficult. I feel good about it. I think there is plenty of time to be well prepared for the first game.”

For all the negatives of COVID-19, there was one big positive for the Houston Dynamo and every other team for that matter. The Dynamo will almost be back to full strength by the time the tournament.

“It looks like at this point that Kiki (Struna), as we start tomorrow, he will be doing some of the exercises with us already. So, he is very close to being 100 percent with us. Jose (Bizama) is likely maybe one or two weeks away. But it is likely that we go into the season - obviously we don’t know what will happen in the next four weeks - but hopefully we will go into the season with a healthy Jose Bizama, a healthy Darwin Quintero and a healthy Alberth Elis. That is something we didn’t have when the season started, and also Victor Cabrera. So that will be four guys that we could potentially start the new season that we didn’t have at the beginning.”

One of the challenges facing Ramos and the Dynamo is the evaluation process of the players for fitness, and skill and who fits where and how.

“The truth is that it is very difficult. What we are evaluating is the physical work. In other words, the players work with GPS, we know the meters they cover every day, we know the capacity they are giving us, we know the percentage of the speed that they run every day taking as much as each one has. In general, the only evaluation that can be done so far is the physical evaluation because the players have not been able to compete. Then they are seen coming to training, that physically they are gradually improving. If they have touched the ball, if they have done exercises which can improve their technique, but in terms of being able to evaluate them without the players being competing if it is very difficult."

Following the tournament which includes wins and losses during group play as part of the regular season, the league will return to an abbreviated season. Garber was unable to elaborate on the specifics yet bit was enthused that following the tournament in Orlando, Florida, the league could get back to a semblance of normalcy.

HBU's Christopher Welch named to All-America Team

Photo courtesy of HBU Athletic Media Relations Department

By Jennifer Edwards

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 27, 2020) A shortened indoor track season could not stop Dickinson native, Christopher Welch (shown right) from excelling in the  triple jump. Welch set an Houston Baptist University record by jumping 15.64 meters or 51 feet and 3.75 inches at the Texas A&M Invitational. He continued his winning ways by completing a 15.94 meter jump. In total, Welch has broken the school record seven times. 

This sophomore standout is used to the spotlight and incredibly humble when it comes to his talent. Welch stood out on the Dickinson Gator football team as an all-district kicker and wide receiver. Once football season was over, his focus turned quickly to track and field where he excelled. In addition to the accolades he has already racked up, Christopher received the NCAA All-American in the triple jump, as well as a silver medal in Southland Conference Indoor Championships and became the first HBU indoor championship qualifier. 

Welch is incredibly humble when it comes to where he gets his talent from. He says, “When I got the confirmation that I was an All-American I was very thankful, because I’ve always known that it was going to happen and it was what I prayed for when I first got to college.” Welch hopes to continue his winning ways at HBU in the future when the university is able to safely bring athletes back. He also says,” Just knowing that God’s promise to me was fulfilled it gave me the motivation, so that next year I would not only be an All-American, but also become a National Champion.” This young man will be one to watch in the future

2020 Big 12 Conference preseason football rankings

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

PASADENA-DEER PARK, TEXAS (June 26, 2020) With the upcoming Big 12 Conference football season just around the corner, it is time to announce my preseason rankings. The below predictions were submitted to the Big 12 media department for inclusion in their determination of their conference pre-season ranking.

1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Iowa State
4. Oklahoma State
5. TCU
6. Baylor
7. West Virginia
8. Kansas State
9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas

FIFA Women's World Cup...One Year Ago...A Look Back

Photo courtesy U.S Soccer WNT via Twitter.com

By Jennifer Edwards

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS (June 7, 2020) One year ago today, sports fans were not yearning for any sports coverage they could get. It was the start to the Women's World Cup 2019 and all the world was watching. The Cup coverage could be seen almost all day long and was a soccer fan's fantasy come to life. It put women’s soccer front and center and the ladies did not disappoint. From Marta’s performance with the Brazilian Women’s team and her story of perseverance to make the team, to Amandine Henry scoring the opening goal to kick off the tournament and put her French National Team on the board, the tournament was on fire from the start. While the United States Women’s National team dominated the games they played, many amazing stories emerged of teams scraping enough funding to try to win a bid to the tournament and making that bid a reality. Thailand is one of those standouts. They were unevenly matched with the US powerhouse and lost 13-0. But they showed the world that they can still keep their head up and plan to return to the next World Cup with the lessons learned. In the 52 matches that were played there were 146 goals awarded for an average of two goals a game. Total attendance was over one million people. Those fans got to see the Lionesses’ Ellen White become one of the three top scorers alongside the US’s Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe all scoring six goals each. While US soccer fans wait for the MLS and NSWL to return to play, looking back at the memories of last year are always amazing.

NEWGARDEN TAKES QUALIFYING POLE FOR GENESYS 300 INDYCAR SERIES RACE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Reigning champion picks up where he left off last year at No Limits, Texas

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (June 6, 2020) - Reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion and defending Texas Motor Speedway winner Josef Newgarden (shown left) picked up exactly where he left off last year at No Limits, Texas by taking the pole position for tonight's Genesys 300.

 

Despite the temperature nearing triple digits, the driver of the No. 1 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet lapped the 1.5-mile high-banked tri-oval for a two-lap average of 24.0289 seconds at a speed of 215.740 mph.

 

For his efforts, the Hendersonville, Tenn., native was presented with the traditional pole winner award at Texas Motor Speedway, a Henry Texas Tribute edition rifle.

 

"I don't want to say I was surprised," Newgarden said. "It felt like the car was quick. I didn't know if we had enough to beat [Scott] Dixon; he looked really good in his qual trim. I felt the XPEL car was great. I just tried to do the best I could to stay flat. That's just all I had to do was keep it pinned around the track. The car was perfect."

 

Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Honda) was second with a two-lap average of 24.0403 at 215.638 and Newgarden's Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud (No. 22 DXC Technology Chevrolet) was third at 24.0596 at 215.464.

 

Last year's No. 1 qualifier, Takuma Sato, crashed in Turn 1 on his warmup lap. Sato was seen and released from the Wise Health System infield media center despite extensive damage to the No. 30 Abeam Consulting Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.

 

The Genesys 300 will be broadcast live on NBC tonight beginning at 7 p.m. CT, with the green flag to wave at 7:10 p.m.

Houston Dash get No. 3 seed in 2020 Challenge Cup

By Robert Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 1, 2020) The Houston Dash garnered the number three seed in the upcoming 2020 Challenge Cup, presented by P&G and Secret and hosted by the National Women's Soccer League. The Cup will begin on June 27 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah and continue until July 26.

The Dash will kick off the tournament on Wednesday, July 1 facing the North Carolina Courage in the preliminary round. Four days later, Houston will play Sky Blue FC, followed by Chicago Red Stars on July 9 and Washington Spirit on July 13. The full schedule will be announced at a future date. 

While spectators will not be in attendance, fans can catch all the action via CBS All Access with the opener and championship game also airing live on CBS.     

This tournament marks a return to action for the Houston Dash and second-year head coach James Clarkson. The Dash went 7-12-5 under Clarkson in 2019, including a 2-1 win in Salt Lake City on May 11. The Dash are 1-2-0 overall in Utah since 2018, when Utah Royals FC joined the NWSL.

The Cup consists of four preliminary games for each of the nine teams, with the top eight teams proceeding to the knock out rounds in route to the eventual title match on July 26.