Ben Chodorow, center back for the La Jolla Country Day Torreys soccer team, received his annual birthday call from his great-grandmother in South Africa on Dec. 1, and you could say “Ouma” (“Grandma” in Afrikaans) helps spark the Torrey team with her “boerwors” sausage.
The younger Chodorow, an auburn-haired defender, fondly recalls his family’s visit to Great Grandma Peggy’s — 99 years young — especially going on safari in nearby Botswana. “That’s what people do there,” he explained.
“I think going there gave me a lot of pride about my family,” the courteous 17-year-old said in a midweek conversation alongside teammate and fellow back Anson Zettle. “Ouma” for grandma is pronounced “ooh-ma.”
Chodorow’s mother, Lisa, is the link to Peggy, her grandmother. Lisa grew up in South Africa and later met the kids’ father.
Zettle and Chodorow head a strong Torrey defense from the back, calling out positioning and other instructions to their colleagues in front of them. It worked well in a satisfying 1-0 shutout of Clairemont, which the two call an example of “big public schools” they’re facing, Dec. 17 before the winter break. Another was a 0-0 draw at home versus University City at home two days later.
“Sachin (Pathria), our goalie, can save a stop — wow!” related Zettle. “It’s helpful knowing he’s going to make a save” in the back. Pathria, a 6 feet 4 inches tall sophomore, came in last year as a freshman and had an immediate impact on coach Corbin Prychun’s team.
Country Day won a CIF title two years ago, with back-to-back league titles (moving up from Div. IV to Div. II). “We wouldn’t have made it through” last year’s schedule without Sachin and Jack DeJarnette, another sophomore, said Zettle.
DeJarnette, at right back, “can make defenders miss when he handles the ball,” said Chodorow. “He often turns defense into offense.”
Another key contributor is Will Mirhashemi, a four-year veteran as a senior. “He’s a very technical player — good at complicated things,” suggests Zettle. “He can switch the ball to the other side of the field effortlessly,” adds Chodorow. “He makes things that are very hard look easy,” Anson chimes in.
One thing the two team leaders value is the way their coach allows his players room for input. “Coach Prychun gives us a lot of control on the field,” Anson said. “For example, we have some players designated to do kicks. He trusts us that we’ll make the right decision” (if they think someone else would be appropriate at the time).
Zettle has a whole different set of roots from Chodorow’s “Ouma.” He hails from Seattle, where he began playing soccer from ages 4-11 for Seattle United. “I just love the city of Seattle,” Anson says. He has fond memories of being there, seeing the Space Needle and the Gum Wall (look it up).
