Tarpley (left), Johnson (center) and Mixson

Soccer program growing

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee soccer program will field three teams next spring. The varsity will now have a boys and girls team. Plus, there will be a new junior varsity team.

In all, 68 players will make up the three squads.

"There's a lot of growth. We're going through that with soccer now," coach Matthew Tarpley said. "Soccer is the fastest growing sport in the US. We're seeing that here in Tallassee."

Tarpley is working with coaches Keiven Mixson and Alfonzo Johnson on the boys side and Jennifer Crain on the girls side.

"I'm passionate about the game. I love teaching it and coaching it," said Tarpley, who has been coaching at Faulkner University for the past seven years. He joined Tallassee last season.

Last year, Tallassee went 9-7-1 and finished the season with four straight wins.

Addressing the team during tryouts in August

"We've got 18 returners coming back from last year," Tarpley added. "We've got some very capable players."

Tarpley with players who will make up Tallassee's first girls team

The team had a parent meeting last week and will now begin the fundraising process.

"We've got to buy uniforms - home and away - for a JV boys team now. We didn't have to do that last year. We've got to buy uniforms - home and away - for a varsity girls team now. We haven't had that in the past. Now we've got to share soccer balls. We've got to buy a bunch of new equipment.

"We have some needs. I would love to talk to anyone in the Tallassee community."

For more information, call Tarpley at 404-966-7086.