Out of Bounds: Women’s Soccer Coach Todd Wawrousek

By Jason Enders

Todd Wawrousek has been at the helm of the Gettysburg Women’s soccer team for sixteen seasons. Wawrousek has also served as an assistant coach with the Hershey Wildcats of the A-League and with the youth soccer club FC Delco. In his time with FC Delco, Wawrousek had the pleasure of coaching current DC United and Unite States National Team midfielder Ben Olsen. Gburgforum.com’s Jason Endres had the pleasure of sitting down with Coach Wawrousek to discuss his time at Gettysburg College, graduating players, Centennial Conference Player of the Year Katie Myers, and recruits for next season.

JE: The Bullets finished with an overall record of 11-7-3, how successful of a season was it in your eyes?

TW: You have to look at in the primary objective: to guide players. Every year, you have different levels of personnel and talent. Our achievement was quite considering we lost six starters. Two of them were All-Americans and two others were All-Region players. This season, it took time for younger players to get into leadership roles.

We played one of the top five schedules in the country. The team could have easily folded, but their resilience was supreme. We went on a run at the end of the season, but lost two close games to end our chances at a conference championship. To finish the way we did, I thought we had a great season.

JE: Gettysburg won the Division III ECAC Southern Championship, what did that achievement mean to your team?

TW: They had higher aspirations for themselves. We know it’s a second rate tournament, but I think they were happy to be able to validate their season. It set their spirits higher for what the future may hold. It served as an inspiration for them for next year.

Steph Smith… I thought she had a breakout year. Down the stretch, she was willing to take the team on her back. She was named ECAC Player of the Tournament.

JE: In 2004, Gettysburg went 15-5-2 and won their first round game in the Division III NCAA Tournament. The team did not fair as well on the field this year. What was different about the 2004 team compared with the 2005 team?

TW: The six seniors on that team were all very different, but they all had that mentality of not to lose. Other players in that class assumed roles. It was such a great mesh of players that was able to be examples for the younger players. Christina DiTucci had one of the top two touches I have seen in my sixteen years here. Those six players just did not need to be motivated. They came ready to play.

We had the opportunity to have Bob Lilly, the current coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps of the A-League, join us for that season. I had previously coached with him with the Hershey Wildcats. He was able to tweak our system. We knew we could control the ball, but couldn’t attack effectively. We decided to play a bit more direct as soon as we got the ball. We were able to quadruple our breakaways that season. It was a lot of work for our forwards. If we couldn’t get forward straight ahead, we played it to DiTucci.

JE: Which graduating player will be missed most on the field and which player will be missed most off the field?

TW: It’s hard to pick one. Kristin Igusky, Katie Ferraro, and Megan Murphy were all great. None were blessed with great talent, but all became good players. Each of them had their best season in their senior year. Putting the captain’s band on gives a whole new list of responsibilities.

Ferraro’s versatility and spirit are very difficult to match. Murphy had good pace and would play until she dropped. Igusky was a very good athlete. She was good off the dribble and could cover a lot of ground in the back.

I can’t define one loss over another loss. They love to put the colors on their back to play. They are high degrees of inspiration and spirit.

JE: Katie Myers was the Centennial Conference Player of the Year. What do you expect from Katie in 2006 in her final season in a Gettysburg uniform?

TW: To continue to improve her game. Goals didn’t come this year like they did the year before. My expectations for her are ninety minutes every game and to not worry about the impression of those watching. If she takes players on and plays great defense, I’ll be happy with her performance. Timing was all off for the team in the beginning of the season.

JE: In what ways does the team need to improve next season?

TW: I have always believed you do something in a certain way. I felt we lost our sense of focus. Those things really happen; how you prepare, interact, and even take care of the equipment. It’s all of that. We need to do things on a more consistent level. Assuming individual responsibility to prepare when no one’s watching is essential.

We have to be more effective in transition from midfield to front and at a high rate of speed. Speed of thought and speed of play have to match. Specifically, players know how they have to improve technically with individual meetings.

JE: In terms of recruiting, what positions are you trying to improve the most this off-season? What kinds of players are you trying to bring to the Gettysburg Women’s soccer team?

TW: Right now, we have a transfer from Xavier University. Her name is Molly Johnson from outside of Harrisburg. We welcome her to the club possibly in the playmaker, attacking midfielder spot. In addition, we have five early decision acquisitions. Mary Peters is a defender. Emily Harper, from outside of Pittsburgh, is also a defender. Francesca Raleigh, a local product, is a very good athlete, raw but I l look forward to developing her talent. Megan Palmer is a wide midfielder. Kari McKenna, a two year All-State selection from the Kent School in Connecticut, will complement Myers up front.

There are six others who we are very interested in. If we get two of those six players, it will be the best recruiting class we have ever had.

I love to develop talent. It’s what I do best. I love to outwit my opponents. We have been fortunate to have a fair amount of success here. With each year you want to succeed and do better.