Most athletes dream of winning a championship, but one at the age of 50?
While some might begin to doubt their physical abilities around the half-century mark, one local women’s soccer team proved it’s never too late to win gold.
For the third year in a row, Shear Power took first in the 50-and-over division at the United States Amateur Soccer Association’s seventh annual Veteran’s Cup last month in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Seattle-based team won all five of its games during the tournament and held its first four opponents scoreless. In the June 27 championship game, Shear Power battled through 90-degree heat to defeat Vaiete 2-1.
Valerie Gilstrap, of Lynnwood, has played for Shear Power for the past year-and-a-half. The mother of two was impressed by the level of competition at the tournament. Vaiete had also held its opponents scoreless leading up to the title game.
Gilstrap, 49, said she didn’t expect to be able to compete in this year’s tournament because her 50th birthday is later in the year. She was thankful to find out the tournament committee changed its eligibility rules. Participants must be within a division’s age requirement by the end of the calendar year, rather than by the date of the tournament.
Shear Power, which draws players from Issaquah, Renton, Seattle, Bremerton, Sammamish and other areas, prepared for the heat of Hawaii during practices.
“We trained with extra clothes on,” Gilstrap said.
The tournament began June 23 with an opening ceremony similar to those in the Olympics, Gilstrap said. Prior to first-round games, each team entered the complex with banners and flags from their area. Shear Power represented the Seattle area by carrying umbrellas and Seattle’s Best coffee cups.
By winning its division, Shear Power received a trophy, $750 to cover equipment and travel costs and an automatic berth to next year’s Veteran’s Cup. Each player received a gold medal.
Gilstrap has been playing soccer since her early 30s. Her husband was an assistant coach for their son’s team and urged his wife to join a coed team he played for. She has been playing in leagues around the state ever since, although neither her husband nor son currently play.
One of the main reasons Gilstrap continues to play soccer is to maintain her health. As a nurse, Gilstrap considers herself a role model to friends and family members. Many people struggle with obesity and heart disease, but with regular exercise she said they can prevent some of these health risks.
“It just means something to me that I can be healthy and out there,” Gilstrap said. “To win a tournament at this level, at my age … I feel like a positive role model.”
Winning the tournament was especially important to Gilstrap because her mother’s health is fading.
One of her personal goals was to win the championship so that she could share it with her mother.
“It was important for me to win this and bring the Cup back to her,” Gilstrap said.
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