Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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March 14, 2010

DeGray takes over Graham boys soccer

By JED LOCKETT Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD, Va. — The 2010 season marks a time of transition for the Graham High School boys soccer team. Gone is the man who led them the last four seasons, Hank Furry.

In Furry’s place is 26-year old Greg DeGray. At first, he looks like he should be playing with the G-Men rather than coaching them. But DeGray has two years of experience as an assistant under Furry and he is eager to apply what he has learned.

“(Furry has) taught me a lot about coaching,” DeGray said. “It’s a whole lot different than playing obviously. It’s a bit different of an experience, but I’m getting used to it.”

When Furry transitioned to the girls program, it left an opening for DeGray to take over the boys.

“I wanted to do it before and Hank wanted to help coach with the girls this season and it just kind-of fell into my lap,” he said. “I’m happy to do it. I’m happy to be here.”

The players have embraced DeGray so far and have been eager to get started. Their only hindrance has been the snowy weather, which has limited Graham’s practice time and kept them inside.

“They’ve all came out ready to go since the beginning of practice even though we’ve been stuck in the gym due to all the weather,” DeGray said. “They’re excited. They’re ready to play.

“The most important thing is for all of these kids to come together and really function as a unit, come together as a team on the field and off the field. These kids need to get together and really become good friends, trust each other, support each other and we’ll be O.K.”

The G-Men will start the season in a 4-4-2 formation with a stopper-sweeper combo in defense. But DeGray suggested the possibility that he could vary it, moving into a 3-5-2 as well.

“I’ve always liked the aggressive style of playing, just go out there and let them go after the ball and win the ball in the midfield, a very aggressive offense,” DeGray said.

“I want my forwards to challenge their defense one-on-one but also pass the ball well between each other. I want the offense and defensive midfielders to get up and back on the field from 18 to 18, so all over the place.”

Christian Cole will take the role as the last line of defense when he returns as the starting goalkeeper.

“He’s a really talented kid,” DeGray said. “Just having more experience, another year added onto his resume, he’s ready to go.”

The starting defense will include Andrew Day at stopper, David Pelts at sweeper, Chandler Hurley at left back and Nick Sturniolo at right back.

“Day played last year for us as a freshman. He’s got pretty good experience back there. Pelts is a senior this year and him being back there in a sweeper position, he’ll really be able to let them know what to do, who to mark, where to be ....”

At the time of the interview, DeGray was undecided on who would start at the wings in the midfield. But he was certain that Scott Brewster would play as the defensive central midfielder and Ryan Stanley would take the role of the offensive central midfielder.

DeGray is counting on the chemistry Brewster and Stanley developed during basketball season to carry over and their size to be a factor in controlling the game.

“They’ll both be functioning in the middle but still be moving together and kind-of adapting to it because they both play basketball together and they know each other really well,” DeGray said.

“They’re both two of the taller guys on our team, so they’ll be able to get up and win the ball in the midfield.”

Freshman Forrest Yates will attempt to fill the shoes of the departed Landon Furry as the lead striker. Yates is a freshman who will need time to adjust to the high school game.

But DeGray noted that Yates and the yet-to-be-determined other striker will have help from the midfield.

“It’s not going to be all on them because they’re going to have a lot of help from Ryan Stanley,” DeGray said. “He’s going to be pretty much a playmaker on offense at offensive midfielder. He’s going to be the one that makes that pass or makes that decision that really determines the outcome of the games and how many goals we do score.”

DeGray expects the Southwest District to be as tough as ever this season.

“I know Abingdon, I’m not sure how many players they lost last season, how many seniors went on to college and whatnot,” he said. “But they won it last year. You’ve got to consider them the favorites.

“And Marion’s always really good and we always have a tough time with them and Carroll County. Tazewell always plays us hard, too. It’s just going to come down to who wants it that day and who’s going play harder.”

The middle of the pack might be a reasonable expectation for the G-Men this season. But DeGray thinks his club can do more.

“We lost some really good players last year, but a lot of these younger kids no one even knows about,” he said. “I think that’ll definitely be a surprise and even the older guys have really come together and they’ve worked hard and they want it more than they ever have. I think we definitely could be one of the surprise teams that you see in the Southwest District.”

The G-Men are scheduled to open their season on Tuesday at Pulaski. They open district play on March 25 at home against Tazewell.

— Contact Jed Lockett

at jlockett@bdtonline.com

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