By Anne Larsen
“When they step on the field they make everyone better.” That quick sentence from Olympia HS Boys Varsity Soccer coach Ty Johnson says it all. Coach Johnson knows that having two players on his team that train with the Seattle Sounders FC Pre Academy could have a very different result. Evan Munn (goalkeeper) and Jamison Corbin (midfielder) are two of the best players in the state of Washington, and they both proudly support their Olympia Bears team and love wearing the blue and white uniforms come game day. Placed in their situation many Sounders Pre Academy players probably choose not to play on their HS teams or could show up with an “I am seriously so much better than all of you” attitude. Evan and Jamison are the opposite of that, and THAT is what makes them so cool. Instead, what Evan does as goalkeeper and Jamison does from midfield is command and lead their teammates in a way that garners them respect from their coach and is building this young Olympia team to a successful season and seasons to come.
Even though I have three kids in soccer I was fairly clueless on the magnitude of what Evan and Jamison are doing on a daily basis. I had to call in an expert to get my head wrapped around the lay of the elite and premier soccer land! So, (to my understanding) in the world of youth soccer there are recreation league soccer teams, club level teams (like Blackhills FC), Elite Player Development (EPD) teams, middle school and high school teams, and then Major League Soccer (MLS) teams across the county all have Academy teams for boys ages 15 -18. The goal of these MLS Academy teams is to develop more elite players for futures in professional soccer. The Sounders Pre Academy takes the best of the best from a pool of players, typically past Elite Player Development players, and trains them at the Starfire facility in Tukwila. The level of play and experiences that Evan and Jamison are receiving with the Sounders is second to none. Current and past coaches praise not only their skill level, but their character on the field. “Evan and Jamison both have a tremendous work ethic towards improving their game and both are fantastic teammates.” Blackhills FC coach James Charette
So what does that path look like that takes a young club player to the Sounders Pre Academy and ultimately professional soccer? Evan started playing soccer 6 years ago. Tapping into all the various soccer programs that Thurston County has to offer he played on recreational teams, South Sound Select, and Blackhills FC before making the Sounder Pre Academy Team and representing the Olympia Bears. Jamison has been playing his whole life…… After moving to California at age 6 he returned to Olympia during the 6th grade and went on to play for Blackhills FC. He attributes a lot of his skills foundation to the years he played in California. “It was really more competitive in California and that really helped me become the player I am today.” Nowadays you can find these two practicing or playing in games 6 days a week or in the car driving on I-5 coming and going from practices in Tukwila.
Evan and Jamison are both super vocal about how proud they are to wear and support their Olympia team colors (go Bears!). With their busy schedules they typically practice up with the Sounders and play games for Olympia, which could cause some animosity among their high school teammates. When I asking the boys about this they said “nah, they (teammates) seem cool with us not participating in all the practices.” Coach Johnson feels the same. “Evan and Jamison get along with the other players and are not arrogant. The Sounders is where they are getting a higher level of play and experience and even though they train up north they are still very coachable kids.” The amount of training they do is amazing. Currently, these “Oly Boys” or are the only boys from Thurston County making the trek to Tukwila and playing on the Sounders team.
The only place these two probably spend more time than the soccer fields is in the car in route to soccer fields. It’s a good thing they are friends or those car rides could be torture. They both agreed it would be mighty tough not to be friends since they spend so much time in the car and practicing together. And how about those car rides? Jamison has his permit now, but it’s really been their parents commuting the boys up to their practices. Just think of that. I-5 day-in and day-out after school. Best parents in the world award goes the Munn and Corbin parents!
Evan and Jamison are great at balancing being teenagers, playing high school sports, and being a Sounder. It’s a delicate balance with soccer being 24/7.” Ty Johnson. It’s tricky enough for a typical teenager to balance school and sports, but these two are really upping the ante. Their answer? Strict parents! Both boys told me that they single-handily have the two strictest sets of parents on Earth. They are getting their homework done in the car and studying at home. School is the first priority for both boys and their families. They understand professional soccer careers will only be a portion of their life….no matter how successful and healthy they are….and for longevity that is where a college education comes in. Neither has a specific college in mind, but it will certainly be one that rolls out the big scholarship money!
Coach Johnson has been coaching boys soccer at Olympia HS for 9 years, the past 5 as varsity coach. What does he think of his two not so secret…”secret weapons?” With a super young team this year (only 3 players are seniors) and playing in the toughest league in the state, he’s happy to have Evan and Jamison to “push the other players to their potential.” All the boys on the team have “really stepped it up and are building chemistry.” Jamison, a captain, is very vocal on the field and has great leadership. Evan organizes the team from the goal and is a vocal leader from the goal. “Both boys have a great work ethic, desire to win and they never give up.” That seems to be the resounding consensus.
These two “great kids” are on the road to living out the dream every young athlete has…to be a professional in a sport they love, and they are doing it with the admiration and respect of coaches and teammates alike! ” Evan and Jamison are great role models for Blackhills FC youth players. When they have time they make themselves available to work with the players. It has been a pleasure to see their game evolve, witness their citizenship and support their community. We wish them the best as they develop their soccer and life skills with Sounders FC.”
Best of luck to Evan, Jamison and all the Olympia boys playing with Coach Johnson this season. Go Bears!
Blackhills FC website (with athlete profiles on both Evan and Jamison) – http://www.blackhillsfc.org/page/show/33849-welcome-
Sounders Academy – http://www.soundersfc.com/team/academy-teams/academy-landing.aspx
