Christian Central Academy
Soccer teams make family connections

Christian Central Academy's soccer program has several family connections. Pictured left photo, from left, are the girls - Meredith McLaughlin, Krissy McLaughlin, Ashley Tom, Rachel and Sarah Caputi, Rebecca DeRose, Tayler Hobba, Jordan Hobba, Alaina Pariso and Amie Stuitje; missing from left photo - Jessica and Kristin Gauze, Jenni and Laura Albrecht, Joanna Mroz; pictured right photo, left, are the boys - David DeRose, Cameron Tom, Peter Puskas, Russell Blueye, Josiah Blueye, Kevin Stuitje, Jessica Mroz, Joshua Blueye, Austin Tom, Jim McLaughlin, Carmen Pariso; missing from right photo - Steve Puskas and Nathan Mroz.

High school soccer has become an increasingly popular sport among youth in the United States and over the past 10 years, its popularity has grown at Christian Central Academy.

As a result, many family members play on the three CCA teams. On the boys' and girls' varsity as well as the modified team, there are 13 families represented which have two to three brothers and or sisters. Four families have three family members and nine families have two players.

There are three sets of twins - Rachel and Sarah Caputi, Jesse and Nathan Mroz and Kristen and Jim McLaughlin, three sets of sisters on the girls' team - the Caputis, Jess and Kristen Ganze, and Jenni and Laura Albrecht, and three brothers on the boys' varsity team - Josiah, Joshua and Russell Blueye. Other three-player families are Ashley, Cameron and Austin Tom, Meredith, Jim and Krissy McLaughlin, and Joanna, Jesse and Nathan Mroz. Two-player families include Rebecca and David DeRose, Tim and Katie McAllister, Peter and Steven Puskas, Tayler and Jordan Hobba, Carman and Alaina Pariso and Amie and Kevin Stuitje.

"Having so many family members play at a small school really helps teams because the brothers and sisters support and teach others," said CCA boys coach Alan Wandowski.

Modified coach Leslie Cook agrees.

"We have a lot of team spirit because of all the family spirit and enthusiasm given by the players and the parents."

Varsity girls coach Joe Karnath commented that "the family connection of having quite a few brothers and sisters playing school sports really is a positive factor in helping the team and coach bond and also in player development."