Sequim Gazette staff
Championships have their privileges.
Ash Apollon, a key figure in Peninsula College’s men’s team championship in 2013, will forgo his sophomore season at P.C. after signing with Bangkok FC of the Thailand Premier League.
The Portland, Ore., native has an impressive resume as he joins the professional Thailand league: He led the NWAACC in assists with 15 and was the NWAACC’s fourth leading scorer with 16 goals.
Apollon was training and playing with the Puget Sound Gunners this spring before making the decision to turn pro.
“Ash was a true pleasure to have around,” Andrew Chapman, P.C. men’s head coach and director of soccer, said. “He had a great fall season for us scoring the game-winning goal in our college semifinal game. He is so strong in other avenues in his life we expect him to do really well.”
Apollon, originally of Boston, Mass., was living in Portland when Chapman found him and brought him to Peninsula.
“Being recruited to Peninsula College was one of the luckiest days of my life and choosing to go there was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Apollon said. “The program speaks for itself. It is indeed the best soccer program in the NWAACC. Peninsula helped me shape my perspective in life, gave me a sense of direction.”
Apollon’s Pirates became the first Peninsula College team in school history to go unbeaten, finishing with 21 wins and two ties as they won back-to-back NWAACC championships. They also finished 2013 ranked No. 7 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Junior College Division I poll.
Apollon praised the coaching staff for much of his development.
“By far one of the best coaching staffs I’ve had the chance to work with,” he said. “They helped me develop my game a lot, especially tactically, but mentally and academically they were always there to make sure I’m in the right track. It honestly did not take me long to find comfort and happiness at P.C. because coach Chapman, coach (Tim) Tucker, coach (Kanyon) Anderson and the rest of the staff made me feel like family.”
