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VISITING AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE NOVEMBER 2007 Walter
Schlothauer and Phil Seil inducted in the Ohio Youth Soccer Association North
Hall of Fame By Hans Kopp On
November 16th 2007 Walter Schlothauer was inducted into the Ohio
Youth Soccer Association North at the Nia Center of the Kalahari Resort in
Sandusky, Ohio. When we speak of youth soccer pioneers in the Northern Ohio, we
need to mention Walter Schlothauer (whose mother is from Schowe and whose father
is from Mitrowitz). Walter was the youngest player registered in 1964 at age of
6 and at that time he was kicking the ball around with his uncles Herbert and
Hubert Haller since the age of 4. As
Walter grows older his technique developed at a rapid pace under Herbert Haller
Sr. who became his coach and mentor. While playing indoor games we practiced
going for goal on a two touch at kick off because we played in a regular gym.
While playing on a short field in Chagrin Falls Walter scored a two touch goal
perhaps the fastest goal in soccer history during first seconds of the game. Walter
became the leader of the SCD Concordia U19 team representing Ohio in the
Regional State Tournament in Oakbrook, Illinois in which the team played three
games defeating Nebraska 5-0, Michigan 4:1 and tying Wisconsin 2-2 and as winner
of the tournament earned the bragging rights of being the best team in the
Midwest. Walter
along with three other teammates was selected to play on the first Regional
Select Team of the Midwest ever assembled for a National Tournament between all
four regions in Dallas, Texas. Walter was one of two players selected from the
SCD Concordia to earn the privilege to play on the first US National Youth Team
(U19) ever assembled by the United States Youth Soccer Association and travel to
Germany in October 1975 where he played very successful under the guidance of
National Youth Coach Angus Mc Alpine. While
playing in High School and College he became a pioneer in the sport of soccer
there as well. He became one of the best known All Americans while playing at
his Mentor High School and at the Cleveland State University during which time
he was not only trend setting with his tactical and technical game but scoring
great and important goals with his left foot which made him one of the most
feared attacking players by his opponents. After
his college years he played professionally soccer for 12 years for several teams
professional both indoors, as well as outdoors.
His
great skills and dangerous left foot earned him a place on the US National
Indoor Soccer Team that participated in the first FIFA “5 a side” Indoor
World Cup held in Budapest, Hungary in 1986 were the team took 6th
place among eight participants which was a respectable result for a USA team at
that time. Upon
retirement as a player he became a coach and administrator. At the present time
he is the “Director of Operations” of the Soccer Sportsplex and Excalibur
Premier Soccer Club. Walter
has earned places in the Hall of Fame at the Mentor High School and in 1980 he
was named by Sports America as on of the ten most Valuable players in College
soccer. In 2002 he was selected by an Ohio-North-Soccer-Committee as one of the
top 75 soccer leaders of Northern Ohio. The
second person inducted into the Ohio Youth Soccer Association North Hall of Fame
this evening was Phil Seil (Schowe), the founder and former head coach of the
Broadview Heights Soccer Club and a former president of the Lake Erie Junior
Soccer League and the first president of the Ohio Amateur Soccer League. As such
he was a vital force in the promotion of high school soccer in the area. Walter and Phil follow Hans Kopp, (Batschsentiwan) recognized as a founder of the US Youth Soccer Association and who was the first president of the OYSAN. Herbert Haller Sr. (Schowe) former star player of the Sport Club Donauschwaben Concordia, former professional player and coach of the Cleveland Cobras and the first Midwest Regional women soccer coach. Franz Schönberger (Apatin), the first president of the Lake Erie Junior Soccer League, a former president of the SDC Concordia and former director of the Donauschwaben Soccer Tournament of North America. With the induction of these Donauschwaben men into the Hall of Fame, the Ohio Youth Soccer Association North has acknowledged their unselfish and valuable contributions to soccer in Ohio and the United States. Hans Kopp presents Walter Schlothauer for induction into the USYSAN Hall of Fame. Walter Schlothauer’s acceptance speech. Walter is presented the Hall of Fame bowl by Ron Gedrich, president of the USYSAN. Phil Seil’s acceptance speech. Phil is presented the Hall of Fame bowl by Ron Gedrich, president of the USYSAN. Four of the five Donauschwaben inductees into the OYSAN Hall of Fame. Left to right; Hans Kopp, Phil Seil, Walter Schlothauer and Herbert Haller. Not
in the picture is Franz Schönberger the fifth member.
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