PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club Head Coach Patrick Leonard and assistants Mark Nowak and Gil Navarro have been working behind the scenes to bring players from the 2023 Championship team back for the new 2024 season in the Cascadia Premier League First Division.
Seven Names As Of March 11
POFC has announced the return of seven players so far: Aidan Harvey, Jake MacKenzie, Gil Navarro, Dominik Pajimola, Isaiah Whitesell, Porter Herbig and Calvin Moe.
(Player photos in graphics taken by Jesse MacKenzie.)
Leonard Keeps Good Vibes Rolling
POFC Gaffer Patrick Leonard understands the challenges of retaining and recruiting players in the greater Kitsap area. He’s moving forward with his staff and a community of scouts to not miss a beat as Port Orchard starts life in the CPL First Division. Leonard remains determined and positive to keep POFC competing for the best players.
“Patrick, Mark, Gil and our front office have plenty of soccer connections,” says POFC Club Coorindator David Falk. “We built up some good press and good will with our debut season. Now people within our community are reaching out to us with recruiting leads, player names and contacts, and helping get the word out about what makes playing for POFC special.”
Coach Leonard On Returning Players
Head Coach Patrick Leonard adds his thoughts on the returning players announced so far.
Aidan Harvey – (D) “I think announcing Aidan as our first signing for the summer and the 2024 season shows that our intentions are to come into CPL1 and compete right away. He’s a leader and he is a player that any coach would want in their team. I’m thrilled to have him back for another season.”
Jake MacKenzie – (F) “I think with Jake what you’re getting is a natural goalscorer and genuinely one of the smartest players to come out of this area for a very long time. He’s a a player that is consistently dangerous, no matter the game or occasion. I’m excited for us to continue working together.”
Gil Navarro – (D) “Gil is an amazing player and leader, everyone was able to see that week in and week out for us last season. I’m thrilled we are able to bring him back to the club for another summer and expand his role further as a coach on staff. He is going to be such an important piece of what we aim to accomplish this season.”
Dominik Pajimola – (F) “Dom offers a relentlessness in our attack and is the exact kind of player we want representing our club. He recognizes that what we have here is special, and he works hard for the cause. I think that is why he is such a favorite for those that come to watch. The DOMinators will be as happy as I am.”
Isaiah Whitesell – (GK) “Isaiah was a result of connections we had through coaches and a recommendation brought our way. Once he came in, he showed his ability and earned his way into the squad right away. I’m thrilled Isaiah is coming back for the upcoming season. He’s just another strong example of our intentions this season. He’s a great kid with a great work ethic and I’m excited to work with him again.”
Porter Herbig – (D) “Porter is a player I know very well from years together at CKHS. He was a captain for me there with Kolby Juarez and Jake Mackenzie both, and this year continues to be a strong leader for me. He knows the standards and he knows how we want to play. Once we finish our goals for our program at CKHS he’ll come straight over and make an impact for POFC.”
Calvin Moe – (M) “We are super excited to bring Calvin back into the mix. He’s been able to go play at a high level this past season with his university, and bringing his consistency back to our midfield is a huge step forward. Bringing back D1 talent into our squad is important. I think you see in our recruiting so far we have the same intentions we had last season.
Calvin brings versatility to our midfield. He is a great player and having him back this summer is exciting for the club and everyone involved.”
