Mighty Bluebirds Green and Mighty Bluebirds Black
U-11 Memphis Cotton Classic Champions

It was an all Mighty Bluebird final at the Memphis Cotton Classic. Last year's Little Mighty Bluebirds played in the U-10 division of the Cotton Classic and won the title with a group that was half U-9 and half U-10. This year due to the 8 man roster changes the teams split up and formed a U-10 team and a U-11 team. The two teams each entered the tournament on opposite ends of the bracket. The Mighty Bluebird U-11 Green team won all three of their games with scores of 4-0 against Memphis Storm, 12-0 against WTFC Lady Dragons, 2-1 against Lady Fever. The Mighty Bluebirds Black won their first game 8-1 over Classic United, their second game 12-2 over the Mighty Bluebird Orange team, and their third game 7 to 0 over MFC Purple Rain.

When both Bluebird teams reached the final they shook hands and called it a Co-Championship and called it a day. The most exciting game came in the final game for the Green team with McKenzie Clark scoring the game winning goal against the 93 Lady Fever team out of Nashville, TN to put the Bluebird Green team in the final. Other goals throughout the tournament were scored by Shannon Donahue, Anne Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Kallie Francis, Olivia Gregory, Sarah Johnson, Amy Moorehead, Haley Parker, Becky Scott and Mary Elizabeth Sixbey. Goalkeepers Ashley Hartnedy and Avery Zorn along with Haley Parker, Kallie Francis and Olivia Gregory showed their defensive strength during the tournament by only allowing one goal over three games. McKenzie Clark, Anne Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Sarah Johnson and Mary Elizabeth Sixbey also played in defensive roles throughout the weekend. The offense, made up during the weekend of Megan Barker, McKenzie Clark, Shannon Donahue, Anne Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Sarah Johnson, Hannah Martel, Amy Moorehead, Becky Scott and Mary Elizabeth Sixbey scored a total of 18 goals to their competitor's one over three games.

For the Black team Haley Hatcher and Brooke Wendl did a great job playmaking while outside forwards, Macey Burr, Larkin Hatcher, Olivia Caillouet, and Annie Stafford added goals. Haley Hatcher had a strong tournament assisting and scoring on over 15 goals in three games. First time goalie, Whitney Beals did a great job allowing just three goals for the tournament in her first ever tournament. The defense was well played by my newcomers Joanna Bentley, Olivia Caillouet, and Annie Sixbey while returning starter Elizabeth Freeman did a great job when her mom could get her to the game on time. Leah Riner did a great job contributing on corner kicks and long kicks for the Bluebirds. Annie Stafford did a great job for the Bluebirds at center halfback.