The Becker Bulldog girls soccer team will have a new head coach this year — though not an unfamiliar one.

 

Arnold Changamire will take over the head coaching duties after his wife, Gretchen, steps down to help coach the junior high squad, opposite of how the dynamic married couple spent their Autumn last year.

 

With three young girls and a three-month-old at home, the Changamires decided it would be best if “daddy” took the head coaching duties for the upcoming season.

 

2015 will be Arnold’s 10th year in the Becker girls soccer program. This is his fifth season coaching at the varsity level.  Arnold coaches year-round for club teams and conducts clinics for the area’ youth programs.

 

This year will mark Gretchen's 12th year coaching in the program.  The soccer program is still searching for a qualified JV coach. Melanie Cameron is also an assistant.

The student manager is Megan Dudek.

 

The Changamires have shown through the years their devotion to the program and they both hope to continue to strengthen the soccer community for many years to come.

 

“We have both been involved in the youth program and we are continuing to grow soccer in the community,” Gretchen said. 

 

The Changamires have multiple soccer coaching licensures and certificates from attending worships and clinics.  

 

“Arnold is always looking at improving practices and game strategies,” she said.

 

 The girls soccer team will consist of five seniors, two juniors, six sophomores, four freshmen and two eighth-graders. The four seniors on the squad are “captains” and they are Talia Cox, Hailey Fitzpatrick, Rachel Vogl and Erica Brovold.

 

Arnold hopes their experience and knowledge rubs off on the younger players.

 

“ I believe that all the seniors and juniors are leaders at any point on the field,” he said.

 

The Changamires have long attempted to promote positiveness and energy with their teams while making the sport fun and productive. Winning, after all, isn’t everything in life.

 

“I want the players to always focus on being good citizens,” said Arnold. “I look at the game as an extension of the classroom and I always hold them to high expectations.”

 

Gretchen agrees.

 

“We try to have fun and keep the focus on learning the game and trying the get each player at their best,” she said. “Keeping the field as an extension of the classroom.  Taking each game as a learning experience.”

 

The Chamgamires — especially Arnold — spent many years in Zimbabwe where they both learned the sport. They credit their coaches of soccer and rugby of that country as being influential in their lives and their coaching careers.

 

Arnold and Gretchen over the years have seen a lot of players come in and out of the soccer program and not all the athletes are always happy with their playing time or lack of. The Changamires deal with each situation separately from others and they hope their philosophy on handling these situations is understood.

 

“I focus on the players first as it is their team,” says Arnold. “I tell the players to be their own advocates and speak up for themselves and I also work on communicating with parents in a variety of ways. I try to make myself available to the players and parents whenever I can.”

 

Arnold comes across as very vocal on the sidelines during games and is not afraid to call out individuals and question their strategies even as the ball is in play.

 

“Arnold is a great coach who tells it like it is,” said Vogl. “He’s vocal because he knows what he’s talking about and is trying to help us see what he sees.”

 

“Arnold has always been good at communicating with his players and we’ve come to learn what to expect from him,” said Cox.

 

Arnold says he likes players that are willing to take risks and work hard. He values players who are committed — not just to the game — but to being better people.

“I also value players who are willing to fail,” he says.

 

Just as the great Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”

 

The Changamires want their girls to take the shots —literally and figuratively — both on the pitch and in everyday life.

 

“Playing soccer in Becker is always fun and the coaches always teach us good things and make us better players each and every day,” said Brovold.

 

“I think we’ll be pretty good and I’m glad we have Arnold on the sidelines as our coach,” said Fitzpatrick. “He really knows the game.”

 

It’s been great having either Arnold or Gretchen as our coach because they know us,” said Owens. “They are like a team. Two coaches in one.”

 

The team consists of the four seniors (Owens, Brovold, Cox, Fitzpatrick and Vogl) as well as: Kalani Bauer, Jasmine Johnson, Allison Zimmer, Madeline Corey, Claire Voigt, Lauren Sticha, Macy Eigen, Heidi Voigt, Mackenzie Kramer, Megan Peterson, Emma Domka, Joey Rothstein, Reilly Cencer and Kylie Schmidt. 

 

The schedule is as follows: Aug. 27 & 29 at Zimmerman versus the Thunder, Big Lake Hornets and Monticello Magic; Sept. 3 at St. Cloud Cathedral; Sept. 8 at home versus Melrose Area; Sept. 10 at home versus Zimmerman; Sept. 14 at home versus Rocori; Sept. 15 at St. John’s Prep; Sept. 17 at Little Falls; Sept. 22 at home versus St. Cloud Cathedral; Sept. 24 at Melrose Area; Sept. 26 at home versus Detroit Lakes; Sept. 28 at home versus Willmar; Oct. 1 at home versus St. John’s Prep; Oct. 6 at home versus Little Falls; Oct. 9 at Watertown-Mayer.