New varsity head coach John Wilkinson began tryouts on Monday, Oct. 29. Varsity tryouts will most likely end around the 9th of November according to Wilkinson. Players are coming into the winter 2018/19 season are already fit and sharp from their fall club soccer season.
“These players are so talented. There is potential that even juniors might have to play for JV,” said Wilkinson after Thursday’s tryout practice ended.
This year, 71 players have decided to try out for a spot on varsity or JV girls soccer according to Athletic Director Pat Smith. Therefore, about 20+ players will most likely be cut from the team depending on the size of the varsity and JV rosters.
“I’m still learning about the players. First cuts will begin this Friday,” Wilkinson said.
Last year, Carlmont varsity girls’ team lost 3-1 in the first round of CCS playoffs against St. Ignatius high school according to Maxprep.com. This season, Carlmont is expecting 7 freshmen, 6 sophomores, and 4 juniors as part of their varsity team from last year’s roster according to Pat Smith.
“I think our team will be just as strong because of the new talent coming in and strong returning players,” said Meagan Freeman, a returning sophomore from last year’s varsity squad.
Wilkinson is an experienced high school coach that previously coached at Sacred Heart prep high school. Wilkinson has also been coaching girls and boys teams at San Carlos United for over a decade.
“I’ve wanted to coach Carlmont for a long time. My son went to Carlmont. I want to coach for my community. I have lived in San Carlos for 24 years now,” Wilkinson said about his new job.
At the end of last school year, varsity coach Tina Smith resigned as both varsity coach and as a teacher at Carlmont. With Tina Smith, her JV coach and most of the boys’ coaching staff left as well. This left Pat Smith to find new coaching staffs for both girls’ and boys’ soccer.
“For varsity, I interviewed four main coaching candidates. I choose John because he had the most experience, and he had personal connections with the community. He also knows a few of the players who are currently trying out for the varsity and JV teams,” commented Pat Smith.
Pat Smith also hired Lindsey Moynihan, a teacher at Carlmont, to be the JV girls’ coach. Varsity girls soccer has their first preseason scrimmage Monday, Nov. 16. The first official game is Nov. 27 against South San Francisco High School. The regular season will end Feb. 12 next year against Aragon High School.
