From organizing a girls soccer bonding trip in San Luis Obispo to running practices that involve coaches, fitness trainers, and specialized training, the two new soccer directors at Pinewood are taking action. New hires Mya Velcelean, Director of Soccer for K-6, and Joey Sudyka, Director of Soccer for 7-12, have arrived to oversee the boys and girls varsity soccer teams.
Growing up in Folsom, Calif., Velcelean played soccer for San Juan before moving to the Bay Area and joining Mountain View Los Altos’ (MVLA) Elite Club National League team as a player. She said she would often play soccer with her little brother, which sparked her interest in coaching.
“As he got older, he wanted to play soccer, so I started coaching him,” Velcelean said. “From this, I found that I wanted to coach young athletes who were full of energy and curiosity.”
As a high schooler, Velcelean began coaching at Montoya Soccer Academy but later returned to MVLA. She began coaching younger players and now coaches a high school-aged team. While building her coaching repertoire, she was taught lessons that she is now implementing at Pinewood.
“You always have to see the player as a whole person, not just an athlete,” Velcelean said. “On any given day, your player could have something that is impacting their ability to perform.”
Her fellow director, Sudyka, also works at MVLA and has been a coach there for the past five years. Sudyka grew up playing soccer at the collegiate level, and his coaches created an environment where he could learn and grow, offering him his first coaching opportunity on the middle school team.
“Most importantly, they made the sporting experience enjoyable, so I was excited to help the younger generation of players below me,” Sudyka said.
Through his soccer experiences, Sudyka has found that playing with intent and clarity translates into success throughout the game. His coaching philosophy reflects that belief both on and off the field.
“If players play with purpose and conviction, showing they have thought and intention in their actions, that is the only thing that matters,” Sudyka said.
As Velcelean and Sudyka focus on the final games of their seasons, they both strive to build a compact, organized defense on which their attacking tactics can be built. While they have had success in their first season, the plan towards progress for Pinewood soccer is continuous.
“My short-term goals are to have a group of players who are greatly looking forward to coming back the following years to make a constantly evolving soccer family,” Sudyka said. “This is what I remember most about my high school experience, and some of those connections last the rest of your life.”
