Women's soccer at Woodland

The City of Seattle Parks and Recreation recently kicked off a six-week trial run of a new daytime women's soccer program at Woodland Park's lower playfields.

The Women's Drop-In Soccer program, which began April 22, takes place on Thursdays through May 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lower Woodland, Field No. 2.

Drop in at 11:30 a.m. to warm up and divide into teams (bring one white and one dark t-shirt). Games start at 11:50 a.m. Bring a ball if you can.

Anyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced level players, and there is no charge for playing.

For more information, call 684-7092.

Student wins silver

Matt Sotebeer, a junior at Nathan Hale High School, recently won a Silver Medal in the Olympic Junior Black Belt Division at the Washington State Taekwondo Championships.

Sotebeer competed in the lightweight class, weighing in at 149 pounds.

The second place finish qualified Sotebeer for the U.S. National Championships in Orlando, Fla., as well as for the U.S. Junior Olympics in July in Las Vegas.

Sotebeer skipped the Nationals because the event conflicted with his scheduled starting rotation spot as a pitcher for the Nathan Hale High School varsity baseball team.

"I'm a pitcher first," said Sotebeer. "The martial arts training and competition simply gives me a mental and physical advantage in class, on the mound, in the field and at the plate."

Although Sotebeer now qualifies to compete as a Black Belt, thanks to his Silver Medal finish, he actually still only holds a Brown Belt in Taekwondo.