~ 2002 Memphis Cotton Classic ~
 
The Mighty Bluebirds Black U-10 team won their first Memphis Cotton Classic. The Bluebirds who are comprised of U-9 and U-10 players got to play some girls their own age for once and responded well. The Bluebirds won their first game against Memphis Fury - 93 9-0, they won their second game against 93 Lady Lobos 5-0, their third game against Memphis FC 93 6-0 and won in the finals against Velocity 93 team from Knoxville, TN 3-1.

The Mighty Bluebirds Black are one of the most promising teams ever with a rare mixture of some of the most tough defenders who are generally our older players who use their physical strength and athletic skills to shut down opponents combined with our Mighty Mites offense who are mainly comprised of girls going into the third grade who are playing up. The little girls use their moves and skills to score goals and the big girls shut them down. These Bluebirds have never lost a game to a team their age since starting the game at four years old.

Leading the way in the tournament for the Bluebirds defense were goalies Annie Stafford and Sarah Frazier. Sarah Johnson played stopper almost the entire tournament and was almost impossible to beat. Olivia Gregory held down the sweeper job along with Becky Scott. Outside halfbacks, Mary Elizabeth Sixbey, McKenzie Clark, Leah Riner, Becky Scott, and Haley Parker controlled the mid field with Haley Parker looking like a miniature version of the U-13 Bluebird team's Annie DeCoursey. At forwards, Brooke Wendl, Larkin Hatcher, Macey Burr, and Elizabeth Freeman did a great job providing the scoring punch and crosses necessary to get the ball to Haley Hatcher who had 13 goals in the tournament. Haley Hatcher, Brooke Wendl, and Larkin Hatcher's one on one ability with the ball helped provide a lot of scoring opportunities for the Bluebirds. Scoring leaders in the tournament were, Haley Hatcher with 13, Brooke Wendl 5, and Larkin Hatcher with 4 goals each.

 
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