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SSFC Holds Annual Awards Banquet

(Chicago, IL) The Screamin’ Seamen Football Club hosted a large gathering of media, sponsors, and supporters this past weekend at their annual awards banquet, held at The Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. The turnout among the club’s supporters was strong, as the fans were obvious quite pleased, if not ecstatic, with the club’s second consecutive third place finish in the series standings.

Wingback Arlen Lucas, affectionately referred to as “Headcase” by teammates and fans, took home the club’s top honors again this season. Though his play did lag a bit towards the end of the season, the 23-year-old New Jersey native remains the anchor on a talented defensive line. He also continues to dominate the air on opponent set piece plays, along with his central defensive partner Cameron McDonald. Lucas was awarded both the Best Defender and Most Valuable Player awards.

18-year-old Chilean midfielder Javier Tejeda made a great deal of noise among SSFC fans this past season, and was rewarded with the club’s Best Midfielder award. Many expected young winger-phenomenon Reg Nichols to take home the award, but the Chicago native was obviously outshone by his South American teammate during the season. Tejeda electrified crowds on many an occasion, bagging seven goals in U.S. Open Cup and league play, including two game-winners.

The South Americans continued to shine as the evening wore on, and Argentinean striker German Galvez was awarded the club’s Best Forward award. Though he, like Lucas, waned in the latter part of the season and was even relegated to the club’s second squad, his dominance on the front line early in the season carried him through. Galvez easily led the club with thirteen goals in competitive matches, including five game-winners and the first hattrick of his career.

The last award of the evening, Most Improved Player, was awarded to 18-year-old Danish winger Ivan Richardy. Richardy had a considerable amount of competition for the award, given all of the young players brought in during the past off-season by the club, but Richardy appeared to be a popular choice nonetheless. Club leaders had expressed a lot of concern early in the season regarding the young man’s performance, but he rapidly turned things around and was rewarded with four starts in league play this season.

Ivan Phillip Freely is an Associated Press reporter for the Chicago Tribune.