Bearfight FC of Wilmington


BearFight FC of Wilmington is an American amateur soccer club based in Wilmington, Delaware. BearFight FC of Wilmington plays in the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania in the fifth division of the United States soccer pyramid. The club is wholly owned and operated by BearFight FC – a non-profit shareholders group.

History of BearFight FC

Founding

The club’s roots are in a supporters group for the Philadelphia Union, the BearFight Brigade. The BearFight Brigade started as a group of people who didn’t feel they completely fit in with other supporter groups, and founded their own. BearFight Brigade have a strong tradition of charitable fundraising, supporting such organizations as Ekisa Ministries who distribute medical and school supplies to orphan children in Uganda, the NF Foundation for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
BearFight FC was founded on August 15, 2013 at Stoney’s British Pub in Wilmington, Delaware. The three co-founders were Eric Shertz, Jeremy Sharpe and Justin Lee. Sharpe and Lee, two of the original members of the BearFight Brigade made the announcement. Like the BearFight Brigade, they wanted to start a club that would challenge the way that a soccer club is traditionally run. That is why from day one, BearFight FC has been supporter-owned and supporter-run. BearFight FC played their first season in 2013, just a few weeks after the club was founded. That night, the Philadelphia Unions first captain, Danny Califf, was announced as the first captain of BearFight FC
BearFight FC is a very diverse club that strives for inclusion. Players from six different countries and three continents have sported the navy and black through their history including Colombia, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Angola and Sierra Leone.

Colors/Crest

In the creation of the crest of the club, inspiration was taken from the flag of the city of Wilmington, Delaware with a ship over the left shoulder of an aggressive bear. The colors are navy blue, light blue and gold. The light blue and gold come from the flag of Wilmington, Delaware and the navy blue comes from the primary color of the Philadelphia Union, which is where those involved in the creation and operation of the club first met.

Players

Current Roster

As of October 18, 2016
#Pos.NameNation
1GKZepp Mazzeo
3DFIssac Mitchell
4DFKieran Todd
5DFCristian Barona
7MFPatrick Burns
8MFShaun Ferguson
9MFRodrigo Maghales
10FWSony Jaramillo
11DFEdmund Waldeyer
12MFEnrique Beltran
13FWKenny Jaramillo
14MFCris Campos
17FWJohn Craighead
18GKGabe Shertz
19FWJason Bradley
21MFYhon Zuluaga
22DFBen Landau
23MFEdgar Medina
24MFIsrael Beltran
25DFYaw Blake-Hwedie

– Captain

Notable Past Players

BearFight FC has had some notable former players that played professionally. In the opening season of 2013, Danny Califf joined BearFight as their first captain. Danny was selected sixth over in the MLS SuperDraft by the LA Galaxy. Over a 13-year professional career, he also played for the Philadelphia Union, San Jose Earthquakes, Chivas USA and Toronto FC of Major League Soccer and FC Midtjyllandand AaB Fodbold of the Danish Superliga. He also scored 1 goal in 23 appearances for the United States men's national soccer team.
In the 2015 season, goalkeeper Thorne Holder joined BearFight for their third campaign. He has played professionally for the Philadelphia Union of MLS, the Long Island Rough Riders of the Premier Development League, and F.C. New York of the NPSL.

Year-By-Year Results

2013–14 Season

BearFight FC had a tough time in the second division of the Inter-County Soccer League. The team managed to pick up just 3 points in 12 competitive games. The team had the leagues worst defense and goal differential despite being led by former MLS star and team captain Danny Califf. The club had the lead in 5 games before surrendering goals in what turned into a draw and 4 defeats.

Results

MatchDateOpponentScorePtsGD
1September 8Upper Moreland Rebels1–50−4
2September 22FOX United4–50−5
3September 29Hunter Senior Men Hawks0–40−9
4October 6Ukrainian United5–51−9
5October 20Warrington Men's Soccer0–11−10
6October 27Ukrainian United1–21−11
7November 10Upper Moreland Rebels0–31−14
8November 17Colonial Senior Men1–51−18
9November 24Hunter Senior Men Hawks0–41−22
10April 6FOX United2–51−25
11April 13Warrington Men's Soccer1–12−25
12May 18Colonial Senior Men0–03−25

Roster

No.PositionPlayerNation
2GK
3DF
4DF
5MF
6FW
7MF
8MF
9FW
10MF
11DF
12MF
13DF
14GKCamilo Burgos
15FW
16FW
17FW
18MF
19GK
20DF
23MFJhonny Tabares
0MFTom O'Neill
---FWDavid Masanga

– Captain

2014–15 Season

Results

MatchDateOpponentScorePtsGD
1September 14Vereinigung Erzgebirge Senior2–50−3
2September 21Colonial Senior Men1–03−2
3September 28Upper Moreland Rebels3–26−1
4October 5Warrington Men's Soccer2–190
5October 19Upper Moreland Rebels4–2122
6October 26Warrington Men's Soccer1–2121
7November 2Vereinigung Erzgebirge Senior0–512−4
8November 9Colonial Senior Men1–113−4
9November 16FOX United1–313−6
10November 23FOX United2–513−9

Roster

#Pos.NameNation
1GKJhony Medina-Acosta
2DFBrown Lugo
3DFIssac Mitchell
5DFCristian Barona
6MFEstevao Ngalabwe
7MFPatrick Burns
8MFIsaac Sequi
9GKMelvin Ewulony
10FWSony Jaramillo
11DFEdmund Waldeyer
12MFMichael Sheehan
13DFKieran Todd
15MFGerardo Lopez
16FWKenny Jaramillo
17FWJohn Craighead
18MFJason Raguz
20MFWilson Grisales-Hernandez
21MFYhon Zuluaga
27MFAlan Rivera
32DFEdgar Medina

– Captain

2015–16 Season

Results

MatchDateOpponentScorePtsGD
1September 13FOX United6–135
2October 11Warrington Men's Soccer0–045
3October 18FOX United2–176
4October 25Ukrainian Avanhard1–275
5November 8Warrington Men's Soccer3–2106
6November 15Ukrainian Avanhard0–810−2
7November 22Colonial Senior Men1–111−2
8December 6Colonial Senior Men0–111−3

Roster

#Pos.NameNation
1GKRaul Moratin
3DFIssac Mitchell
4DFKieran Todd
5DFCristian Barona
7MFPatrick Burns
9FWMiguel Vega-Ventura
10FWSony Jaramillo
11DFEdmund Waldeyer
12MFEnrique Beltran
14MFCris Campos
17FWJohn Craighead
20MFWilson Grisales-Hernandez
21MFYhon Zuluaga
22FWKenny Jaramillo
24MFIsrael Beltran
25DFYaw Blake-Hwedie
27MFAlan Rivera
32DFEdgar Medina
33DFBen Landau
49MFMarcos Jimenez
85GKThorne Holder
99FWMauricio Garcia
–MFJulio Rodriquez

– Captain

2016–17 Season

The 2016–17 season motto is "Forged by Heart and Hustle".

Results

MatchDateOpponentScorePtsGD
1September 11DPR Deep Run Senior FC0–60−6
2September 18FOX United0–01−6
3September 25Colonial Senior Men5–24−3
4October 2Penn Athletics Club Senior Men's United3–44−4
5October 16West-Mont United0–84-12
6October 23Penn Athletics Club Senior Men's United1–44-15
7October 30HUN Hawks2–34-16
8November 6Warrington Men's Soccer4–17-13
9November 20Colonial Senior Men5–110-9
10March 19DPR Deep Run Senior FC
11March 26FOX United
12April 2HUN Hawks
13April 9West-Mont United
14April 23Warrington Men's Soccer