Catching up with Tisha Venturini

Terry Phillips

It hangs forgotten in a closet, stained with the salt from its

triumphant owner. On the surface, it appears to be just a shirt with a

number emblazoned across the back. Upon further examination it becomes

clear that it’s more than just a piece of material with a number -- it’s

the uniform of a warrior.

Newport Beach resident Tisha Venturini has accomplished a great deal

in her 27 years. She began playing soccer in her hometown of Modesto when

she was only 4. By the time she was 10, she played on an all-boys club

team and, at 13, was asked to participate in the state Olympic

development program.

At 16, she became a member of the Junior national team and in 1987,

was selected to play on the under-19 junior national squad.

It was that same year that Venturini was asked to become a member of

the U.S. women’s national team. However, to the surprise of many, she

turned down the prestigious honor.

“I was scared and didn’t feel I matched up,” said the open and affable

Venturini. “I was exhausted from all the travel with the under-19 team. I

was homesick and just wanted to go home.” A graduate of Grace Davis High

in Modesto, Venturini played volleyball, soccer and second base on the

softball team. However, during the winter months, she could always be

found on the ski slopes in Tahoe. Her daring downhill runs were legendary

and dangerous but had Olympic potential.

“I decided if I wanted to play soccer, I better lay off the slopes and

stay in one place,” Venturini said.

She entered the University of North Carolina in 1991 and started on the soccer team that won four consecutive national championships. In

1994, she was heralded as the best women’s player in the country. She was

selected to the national team in 1992 and was the starting midfielder

through 1999, the same year it won the World Cup at the Rose Bowl.

“President Clinton came down to the locker room after the game and

told us he had never witnessed a more exciting sporting event in his

life,” Venturini said. “He had previously attended a playoff game in

Washington D.C. and we met him there, too. We were invited to the White

House and it was pretty overwhelming.”

Venturini’s most coveted accomplishment was winning the 1996 Olympic

Gold Medal in Atlanta. “Even though the World Cup is a bigger soccer

event, I enjoyed Atlanta the best,” she said. “The crowd was so

supportive and we played a great game.”

During a six-month training period in Florida to prepare for the 1996

Olympics and again for the 1999 World Cup, Venturini roomed with Mia Hamm

and Brandi Chastain.

“We had a lot of fun and although Mia seems to be a little shy and

quiet at times, she is actually one of the funniest people on the team.

But (Julie) Foudy is the ultimate crack-up,” Venturini said.

Venturini admits there were some valleys among the peaks.

“In 1999, I was tired and burned out,” she said. “I had lost a step or

two and new, hungry players were coming up the ranks and outplaying me.

All of a sudden, I wasn’t being played as much and that was tough on me.

I had a difficult time accepting a supporting role after being a starter

for so many years. But you know what? It made me stronger as a person.”

After a much-needed rest and relaxation period with her friends and

family, Venturini has resurfaced and is definitely focused. The new

Women’s Professional Soccer League will commence operations in April with

teams in San Jose, San Diego, Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C.,

Raleigh, Philadelphia and Boston. Venturini and Brandi Chastain are

members of the San Jose Cyber Rays, with 1999 national team standouts

Shannon McMillan and team co-captain Julie Foudy playing for the San

Diego Spirit.

Foudy’s husband, Ian Sawyers, a former Stanford women’s coach, will

coach Venturini’s team in San Jose.

“I really think the country is ready for women’s professional soccer,”

Venturini said. “We play in smaller venues and it doesn’t take an arm and

a leg to attend. We’re good wholesome family entertainment and there are

so many young kids playing soccer. I really enjoy coaching young players

and have participated in summer training camps with (Hamm) and (Foudy).

It’s so rewarding to see the kids smile and they seem so in awe of us

that you just know how huge it is to be a role model. It’s a big

responsibility and very important we project the right image.”

Venturini has been traveling the country on the Tour of Champions with

members of the 1999 U.S. national team playing against “World Team,” a

mixed international squad.

With the tour now over, she is committed to a rigorous training

program which includes weight training in the gym three times a week, one

hour of daily sprints and shuttles, jobbing on the beach, jumping rope

and mountain biking. She has tried surfing with boyfriend Casey, but

things soccer is more her speed.

She enjoys signing autographs and teaching kids some of her “hot

moves” on the soccer field. She things she’ll play until she is no longer

competitive, before settling down and contemplating her next challenge --

hoping to get married and raise a couple of potential AYSO-ers.

Tisha Venturini -- a winner in life -- a warrior on the field.