Door County Soccer Program Reaching New Heights

For those involved in summer youth athletics in Northern Door the challenges are endless. The geography that makes the Door Peninsula one of the most beautiful places to live also makes it one of the most difficult places for amateur teams to play in. But in its just-completed fourth season, the DC United U16 soccer team overcame these roadblocks to post its most successful season to date and place its name on the radar with some of the best teams in the region.

The team recently ventured to Blaine, MN for the Schwan’s USA Cup tournament, the largest in the country, where they advanced to the semifinals before bowing to eventual champion Valley United Cosmos of Apple Valley, MN 1-0.

Ian Johnson unleashes a free kick at the new Baileys Harbor Soccer Field during a DC United U16 soccer game this summer. In the background is goalie Steve Quella.

DC United is made up of players from all extremes of the peninsula, including Washington Island, Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Sturgeon Bay, and Luxemburg-Casco students. With such a diverse group of athletes, organizing practices and games is a challenge. But the recent addition and improvements to Northern Door facilities has been a boon to the program.

Two years ago Sister Bay added a full-size soccer field to their sports complex, and this summer Baileys Harbor opened a new soccer-specific field at the town’s recreation park, allowing DC United to host games for the first time.

Steve Johnson, the team’s manager, said the facilities have given the team a boost.

“They really did a great job for us over there,” Johnson said. It’s hoped the Baileys Harbor field will be listed as a second home field for the Gibraltar/Sevastopol High School team (the schools combine to play WIAA soccer), allowing the school to host tournament games next year. In 2007, despite winning the number one seed in their regional, Gibraltar/Sevastopol had to travel in the post-season because Gibraltar’s field is not a soccer-only facility.

DC United U16 team: (Front row left to right) Sammy Johnson, Kyle Sternard, Isaac Lent, Alex Bournoville and Dalton Witalison; (Middle row left to right) Kelson Warner, Isaac Haight, Nate Felhofer, Alex Warkecki, Luc Rose and Cory Geiseman; (Back row left to right) Ian Johnson, Tanner Dvorak, Erik Emanuelson, Steve Quella, Brent Coisman, Nick Knutsen and Derek VandenPlas.

For years Northern Door athletes had no choice but to make the trek to Sturgeon Bay or Green Bay to participate in summer athletics beyond the youth level, but the new facilities have altered the dynamics of summer sports for players and families.

“This creates a great opportunity for more kids to play,” said DC United coach and founder Blake Siewert. “The new facilities have been great. All the teams are using them, from youth on up.”

Siewert said Sister Bay is a wonderful place to have a soccer camp, and he has hosted several there the past two years, drawing on summer visitors in addition to local athletes.

“It’s nice to have some local camps and programs,” he said. “Parents can say to their kids, ‘We’re going to Door County for a month, and oh yeah, I signed you up for that soccer camp.’ Any community that puts money into athletic facilities is going to attract people.”

The nearby opportunities help cushion the often-taxing commitment players and families must make to participate in summer athletics, be it baseball, soccer, softball or camps. When you live in Door County, playing means traveling, and traveling great distances to games in Madison, Milwaukee, the Fox Valley, and tournaments in other states.

“The investment these families have to make to play at this level is substantial,” said Johnson, who has two sons who compete for DC United. “It’s a big commitment.”

The U16 team operates under the umbrella of the Allouez United Soccer Club and plays in the Wisconsin State League, where they finished third of 11 teams this summer. With a record of five wins, one loss, and two ties, the team has petitioned to move up to the Premier State League next year, the highest level available.

DC United features five players from Gibraltar/Sevastopol, and Siewert said it is no coincidence area high school teams have seen increasing success in recent years.

“You’re seeing teams, especially Sturgeon Bay and [Gibraltar], that are much more competitive at a higher level,” said Siewert, who coached the Gibraltar/Sevastopol team in 2006 and worked as an assistant prior to that. “Those two teams have been at the top of the conference the last couple years.”

Allison Vroman took over the squad in 2007 and led them to the conference title. She cited the DC United program as a key factor in strengthening the high school squad.

“I feel fortunate that so many of the Gibraltar and Sevastopol players on my team continue to play soccer throughout the year, especially at such a high level,” Vroman said. “These kids are being exposed to not just the best soccer on the Door Peninsula or northeast Wisconsin but some of the best soccer in the Midwest.”

Siewert is excited about the burgeoning soccer culture in Door County, from the youngest recreational levels to the most intense high school competitions, and spoke to how far it has come in just four years.

“We’re at a level now that we only hoped to aspire to when we started,” he said.