November 15, 2008 5:18 PM

Saturday at Sounders Super Search

soundersfctryout11-08 011.jpg

soundersfctryout11-08 005.jpg Spent my Saturday fighting a cold, and watching the Sounders FC open tryout at Starfire.

I was told 475 people registered for the tryout and 300 showed up, all to try and become the three finalists that will be among nine in all competing for a roster spot on the team.

The first photo is players doing "Sounders jumps," the seventh of eight cardio exercises with barely a break to determine fitness. These guys were jumping after six other exercises, including pushups, hopping over the ball with alternating feet and scissors steps over the ball. As Chuck Norris said in a movie, "That's pain, friend."

In the second photo, that's Darren Sawatzky, Sounder FC director of youth development, talking to the hopefuls after warmups.

The three finalists to move on in the competition were Oliver Wellman of Bellevue, who is a student at Western Washington, Gareth Waite of Orinda, Calif., by way of England, I believe, and Erik Sterling of Federal Way, who I saw play for Decatur HS for the state title one year.

Digg | Newsvine