Virginia Beach, Virginia – The Virginia Beach Piranhas are happy to announce that head coach Wendy Waddell will return for her fourth season in 2011 at the helm of the W-League Piranhas. Waddell has played for the Piranhas since 2004 and took on the head coaching duties at the start of the 2008 season, acting as player-coach. She retired from playing at the end of the 2010 season.
Waddell is looking forward to just coaching in 2011. “Once again we are very thrilled to bring our fans a lot of excitement in 2011 and we are looking forward to producing a play-off team,” said Waddell. “I decided not to play this year in order to give 100% of myself to bringing this team back to where it used to be, which is heading to the national championship.”
Wendy began her soccer career in her hometown of Rochester, New York. She was named 1996 Outstanding Female Athlete at Livonia High Schooland was a three time county all-star. In 1997, she started her college career at Monroe Community Collegerecording 22 goals and was named NJCAA first team All-America.
She continued at Monroe Community College in 1998 and netted 25 goals, setting the Monroe season record for goals scored. She was named NJCCA and NSCAA first team All-America and All-Region III. She set the Monroe career scoring record with 47 goals while serving as Captain of her team. She ended the season as the NJCAA second leading scorer in the nation. She was also named the 1998-1999 Monroe Community College Female Athlete of the Year and was a National Tournament Team selectee in 1998. In 1999, Wendy received a full scholarship to Virginia Tech where she was the second leading scorer with eight goals and eight assists, ranking her second on the team in total points with 24. She was named Virginia Tech Rookie of the year and was an Atlantic 10 Player of the Week selectee. She red-shirted the following year while serving as assistant coach. In 2001, she rejoined Virginia Tech on the pitch as team captain, and was awarded MVP honors. She scored four goals and one assist her senior year.
“We’re thrilled to have Wendy back to lead the W-League Piranhas,” said Piranhas owner Marcie Laumann. “Although it was tough to hang up her boots for the season, it’s a sacrifice she chose to make in order to focus on coaching. It was a selfless decision that reflects her character and commitment to bringing another championship back to our franchise.”
Wendy is currently a special education teacher and the head coach of both the Varsity and Junior Varsity girls’ soccer teams at Deep Creek High School. She is married to David Waddell who also is a coach/teacher at Deep Creek. They reside in Suffolk with their baby son, Ryan.
For more information on the 2011 W-League Piranhas, including sponsorships and tickets, please call 572-1592 or visit www.hrpiranhas.com.
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