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426 IOS Airman Shows off Soccer Skills

  • Published
  • By 1 Lt Mellisa Auers
  • 426 IOS
In December of 2006, SrA Steven Delaney, a Mission Management technician from the 426th Information Operations Squadron, was selected to attend the Air Force Soccer team trials hosted by McDill AFB, Florida from 28 December through 23 January. SrA Delaney was 1 of 44 people selected Air-Force Wide, based on previous experience and skill level, field awareness, knowledge of the game, and physical fitness, to compete for the Armed Forces soccer team.

Air Force soccer trials officially opened on 29 December. From that point forward, athletes participated in intense soccer practices twice a day. During the pre-games they competed against local Tampa teams as well as other Air Force personnel. According to SrA Delaney, the competition on the field was fierce. However, SrA Delaney isn't new to the sport by any means. He's been playing soccer since the age of 3, he was a member of Metropolitan State College of Denver's Division II Soccer team freshman through junior year, and he's participated on local German soccer teams since he arrived in country in 2003.

SrA Delaney had to "play at the top of [his] game every day and prove [he] deserved to be there." It was the high level of competition that kept him going day-in and day-out. By the end of trials, the 44 athletes competing for positions on the Air Force soccer team were reduced to 18 (16 field players and 2 goalies). In the end, SrA Delaney's dedication and display of agility on the field paid off, as he was selected to be a goal keeper for the Air Force soccer team.

After conclusion of the trials, the newly selected Air Force soccer team went on to compete against teams from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps in the Armed Forces Tournament held from 16 to 23 January, also in Florida . During the tournament, SrA Delaney was chosen to start in 3 of the 6 games, all of which the Air Force soccer team won. Overall, SrA Delaney's contribution aided in the Air Force team winning 4 out of 6 games during the tournament.

Although he was not selected to compete with the Armed Forces team in Brazil 3-12 February this year, SrA Delaney is grateful for the opportunity to compete with the U.S. Armed Forces top athletes. According to SrA Delaney, the best part about being able to participate in the Armed Forces soccer trials was "the chance to compete as an unknown and make a lasting impression on both the coaches as well as [his] teammates." He's hoping that impression helps him out next year when he goes out for the team again! For now, he plans on keeping up his soccer skills with the Fussball Club Kaiserslautern (Division III Kaiserslautern Soccer team). The 426 IOS is extremely proud of SrA Delaney and the fact that he represented the Squadron so well during his time in Florida.