Jordyn Listro is an all-star on the soccer pitch.
The soon-to-be 16-year-old won the gold medal with Team Ontario at the 2011 Nutrilite All Stars national championship held in Hamilton, July 19-23.
Gold came from a 3-2 win over Quebec, the squad’s rival from friendly matches.
“We usually know how they play,” she said. “It goes either way, usually we win, but sometimes they definitely give us a hard time.”
Still, the process of being chosen to the provincial team took a lot of hard work for Listro.
“At the beginning, with training every single day, it was tiring but at the same time it was a lot of fun because you need to try your best at every single training session,” she said. “You make sure you’re doing what the coaches want so you’re selected.
“It’s also competing against your teammates and not just playing with them because you need to make the final A team,” she added. “It was a really competitive environment.”
It all started in the winter when the Bayview Glen student attended National Training Centre with Team Ontario. Once April rolled around she returned to her club team, currently Brams United based out of Brampton.
Then, just before the tourney in mid-July, Team Ontario, coached by Joey Lombardi, Sam Mederils, Henrich Svetbo and Armandihno Manjate, picked 25 players for an inter-squad match.
From that troupe, 20 made it to a training camp in Vaughan where the team would reach it’s final 18.
“They just bring you into a meeting room one-on-one, and they tell you if you made it or not,” Listro said. “Waiting for that was really hard.”
But the spoils were sweet for this winger, as she picked up a goal during the championship against Team Alberta, and added four assists.
Her favourite part isn’t scoring goals, but breaking down the side and crossing to the net.
Listro has loved the game ever since her parents Patty and John registered her at the age of five.
Her next goal, and a timely one too just after the Women’s World Cup in Germany, is to go national.
“There’s U17 Women’s World Cup that’s coming up, so the ’95 age group would be the oldest ones who would be able to go, so I’m working towards that,” she said.
She’s setting the tone for sister Julia, Patty Listro says.
“My younger one, who is 12, is in the regional program, which the next step is provincial,” she said.
It’s all part of being a soccer family.
Congrats jordyn, you will achieve your goal, you work really hard.