Board of Directors
Lula Bauer, Chairwoman
Growing up, Lula Bauer loved playing sports. Her father made sure she participated, and she often played with the boys because no sports for girls were offered. Lula’s passion for sports continued throughout high school, and in college, her major initially was physical education then Lula transferred to nursing. Lula earned a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing from George Mason University. In 1981she served on the surgical team at George Washington University Hospital that attended to President Ronald Reagan’s wounds when he was shot. The team was featured in the movie “Saving of the President” and the book, “Rawhide Down.” Still a passionate advocate for sports, Lula has been coaching soccer for more than 25 years and was always either the only female, or one of two females, in her coaching classes. While raising three wonderful (now grown) boys, Lula’s passion for promoting and providing opportunities for female athletes continued to thrive. She has mentored many female student athletes in reaching their dream of playing soccer in college. Her proudest contribution to player development is when she helped introduce the small sided format to league play, alongside Walt Lenar and Tommy Goodman, while serving on the Washington Area Girls Soccer League Board of Directors.
Deborah Honaker, Vice Chairwoman
Women and Girls in Soccer
Tom Gross, Secretary
Tom Gross began his involvement with youth soccer as a volunteer all-girls U8 recreational coach in 1997, and continued coaching recreational soccer until 2012 when his youngest child aged out. As a volunteer, Tom was also a recreational age group commissioner and board member with both DC Stoddert Soccer and Virginia Youth Soccer. In 2002, Tom began working professionally as the Administrator of DC Stoddert Soccer. Currently Tom is employed by D.C. Scores. Since 2016, Tom has served as secretary for the Maryland Youth Soccer Board. He has the USSF "E" and the USSF National Youth coaching licenses. Tom was also a grade 8 referee. Tom’s passion is enlightened youth athletic development. Tom lives in an empty nest with his wife Elizabeth in Washington, D.C.
Pat Lusk, Treasurer
Pat Lusk is most proud of his four daughters and his patient wife of 41 years for allowing him to dedicate time to our organization, WAGS. Pat has a Master’s Degree in business administration and in personnel management. Pat has been involved in soccer for more than 50 years in various roles as a player, coach and serving as a board member. In his current role, Pat helps manage the resources necessary to support activities that provide opportunities for the advancement of women and girls. Pat served 25 years in the U. S. Army, and retired in Fairfax, where he has resided for the last 19 years.
Sue Vodicka, Director
Sue has had a long time association with WAGS, having played in the inaugural tournament and league. After moving away for high school, she returned to Northern Virginia to play at George Mason University and was a member of the 1985 NCAA Championship squad. During her college off seasons she coached at local high schools (Robinson, Lake Braddock and West Springfield) and helped coach several local club teams that participated in WAGS. After starting the Centerville High School girls soccer program, she started her college coach journey as an assistant at William and Mary University. After three years under John Daly‘s tutelage, she headed west to work at Washington State University. She had a one year stint as head coach at VCU, before returning to her alma mater. While at Mason as an assistant she coached for Vienna in the WAGS league. Sue headed south to South Carolina where she was the head coach at the University of South Carolina Aiken for 11 years. Always looking for new adventures, she headed to Minnesota to coach at Shattuck St. Mary’s Soccer Centre of Excellence, where she guided the U15 girls in the inaugural DA season. She returned to the college ranks after 4 years, joining Glad Bugariu‘s staff recruiting coordinator at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Sue holds a USSF A Youth License, and was a proud member of the WAGS Women’s International Coaching Education trip to France during the 2019 FIFA WWC. Sue is the daughter of one of our WAGS founders Rael Vodicka. The WAGS annual tournament is held in honor of Rael’s memory and contributions to WAGS.
Marie Onorato Schweitzer, Director
Marie currently resides in Prince William County with her husband, Tim. Her biggest accomplishment has been raising her two children Stephen and Nicole to be caring and successful young adults who now are contributing to society in so many positive waysm.Marie’s mom and dad always encouraged her to be committed, responsible, and respectful. She is well known as one of the pioneer female soccer players from Northern Virginia. As a founding member of Braddock Road Cougars, Marie began playing for Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS) in 1975 and played in the first WAGS Rael Vodicka Memorial Tournament that same year. In addition, Marie was also a member of the Virginia State Olympic Development Program (ODP) as well as the Region 1 ODP team. She played on the Cougars until her graduation from High School in 1983 and played High School Soccer for Lake Braddock. She was one of the first females to receive a scholarship to play at Radford University and did so as a key defender for four years on a very successful Radford Division One team. Marie, was named co-captain on Radford women’s soccer team and had her number retired in 1989. Since receiving her Bachelor‘s degree from Radford University (1987) and Master’s degree from George Mason (1991) in Education, Marie taught school, successfully coached a number of successful youth teams while mentoring and developing many young players. She is now a Director of Coaching for the Northern Virginia Soccer Club (NVSC). Marie also volunteers and helps the Prince William Special Olympics Soccer Team. In 2013, Marie was awarded the Positive Coaching Alliance Double Dual Coach Award and attended the first WAGS All Female International Coaching Education Trip to France for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. In 2020 Marie was inducted in the Virginia-DC Hall of Fame, a great honor for having devoted so much to the game of soccer as a player and leader in youth and women’s soccer for so many years. She continues to energetically and enthusiastically coach, play, and set a positive example for young girls and women of all ages to follow.
Karin Victorio, Director
Karin is very proud to have come full circle with WAGS having played in the league and tournament in the 1980s, coached players and teams in the league and tournament since the 2000s, and participated in the WAGS Women‘s International Coaching Education trip to France for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. For more than 30 years, Karin has enjoyed playing, refereeing, coaching, and directing soccer programs for toddlers, youth, high school, college, and adults. She believes soccer is a proxy for life and the lessons learned through soccer instill confidence, teamwork, and resilience that contributes to a healthy society. Her high school did not have a girls soccer team until her senior year. She has since seen the opportunities for women grow in and around soccer and is most excited to help other women #StayInTheGame. She holds a USSF D, USC VI (NSCAA Advanced Regional), and the FA Psychology for Soccer Level 1. She is a Physical Therapist Assistant with a B.S. in Gerontology.
Kerry Diederich, Executive Director
Kerry has been involved in local area soccer for 15 years since moving here from southern California with her husband and three children, two are now in college and one is a junior in high school. She has held roles as a parent, team manager, club representative for Herndon Youth Soccer for NCSL and WAGS, tournament staff and served as a board member of WAGS (the former league). Kerry has seen firsthand through her oldest daughter how soccer can have a positive and life changing effect on a girl; her oldest daughter continues to play soccer in college and serves as VP of the soccer programming. Kerry has a background in marketing and is most excited about seeing soccer used as a platform to empower women and girls to reach their full potential and impact their lives in a positive way.
