ABASA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- State Liaison Commissioner
Alex Vidaurri moved to Asheville in 2007 and joined ABASA in 2009. She is a co-founding member of the Bier Garden Fooball Club, and plays in both the women's and coed divisions. After captaining the Bier Garden Women's Team for several seasons, she joined the board as the Women's Division Representative in the fall of 2013. Her role includes representing the voice of the women's division at board functions, coordinating the women's division schedule, communicating with division participants, and acting as the primary contact for new players and teams wishing to join the division. In addition, Alex is the Women's Commissioner for the North Carolina Adult Soccer Association. Alex is one of the founding coordinators of the Celebrate the Ta Tas Tournament of Champions, an all-women's tournament that raises money for breast cancer research. When she is not playing soccer, Alex is an Exceptional Children's teacher at a local elementary school.
Alex can be reached using the form below.
Eric is the Vice President for ABASA. He moved, with his wife, to Black Mountain 23 years ago and has 3 children; 2 adult daughters, and a son who currently plays both soccer and football for Owen High School, and soccer for the Highland Football Club. He also has 1 grandson, and 1 granddaughter. Eric has been involved with ABYSA for 18 years, and with ABASA for the past 8 years. Eric is a proud Watershed Football Club member, for life. As the Vice-President, Eric is authorized to exercise all power and authority of the President in the event of the necessary absence or the disability of the President, or a vacancy in the office of President. He shall also perform such other duties and be delegated such authority of the President as the President shall reasonably determine.
Jorge Redmond was born and raised in Asheville and joined the ABASA Board in 2019. He currently works in the Buncombe County District Attorney's office as an Assistant District Attorney, and as an adjunct professor in South College's Legal Department. Jorge played on the U-17 US National Team and played in the U-17 World Cup in Ecuador in 1995, where he scored a goal against Japan. He earned All-American honors in high school, was the NC State Player of the Year and played his collegiate days at UNC- Chapel Hill from 1996-1998. After graduating in 2001 with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies, he spent time traveling to Cameroon and France playing professional soccer before coming home to teach and coach in the Asheville area. In 2008, he went to Atlanta to attend law school at John Marshall Law School and graduated and passed the bar in 2011. He spent time practicing as a real estate attorney and as a prosecutor before returning back to Asheville in 2016. Outside of work and volunteering, his life consists of being a loving husband and a devoted father to three children. In whatever free time is available, he likes to take hikes with his family, play soccer and read.
Jorge can be reached using the form below, with any Legal concerns
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Appointed Treasurer of the Board
Josh Cavenaugh, newly appointed Treasurer of the Board, relocated to Asheville in 2010. Prior to relocating, he enjoyed a stellar soccer career at North Carolina Wesleyan and at his Alma Mater, UNC Wilmington. After a short stint in Chapel Hill as a business process analyst, he made the move to Asheville to be closer to family. He currently works full-time at UNC Asheville within the Finance Division and also is the Director of Goalkeeping at Highland Football Club as well as the goalkeeper coach for Asheville City Soccer Club.
Lydia Vandenbergh moved to Asheville in 2010 but grew up not far from here in Brevard, N.C and joins the ABASA board in 2017. She currently works for Warren Wilson College as the head women's soccer coach. Before coaching at Warren Wilson, Lydia had a successful professional playing career. She most recently played for the Chicago Red Stars in 2010, 2011, and 2013 and for magicJack in 2012 in the NWSL. She has also played professionally in Denmark, Australia, and Brazil. Lydia also played her college days at Clemson University.
Now Lydia plays in the open and coed divisions and with her college team in the women's division. In addition, Lydia has plans to bring back the women's semi-professional team to Asheville as she is eager to build the women's game in the area not only for the community but for the young girls, like she once was, in hopes they continue on to the next level.
Lydia can be reached using the form below, for matters concerning the ABASA Board meetings and minutes.
Madhu Schmid moved to Asheville in 1995. Soccer was not a part of her upbringing in NY nor did she even really know about the sport (shhhh don't tell anyone) even while living in Europe for 8 years (she is now kicking herself over that!) Madhu was introduced to the world of soccer when her daughters began playing in the ABYSA youth league. In 2001 one of the other soccer moms, who was fed up hearing parents yelling negatively from the sidelines at the their children, organized an 8 week program for moms to learn how to play soccer so they could see it isn't as easy as it looks. Madhu joined 40 other women and immediately fell in love with the sport. Ever since she's been making up for lost time playing women's, coed, over 40 and pub league as well as the ABYSA adult rec league and pickup whenever she can. She's a self proclaimed soccer fanatic - who is passionate about the beautiful game and looks forward to working with the ABASA board to help the adult league in Asheville continue to thrive and grow.
Madhu can be reached using the form below, for matters concerning the Women's Division.
Matt Friedman played soccer through high school while growing up in Tampa, FL. After a 10 year hiatus which included a move to Asheville, Matt joined ABASA in 2008 with All Butter Coed. In 2009, he joined Smush Open and was a co-founding member of Bier Garden Football Club in 2010. In 2013, he joined the ABASA Board of Directors as the Coed Division Representative where he oversees all things Coed, such as scheduling and finding teams for new players. Matt has a Bachelor's Degree in Sport Management and a background in sales and marketing that he brings to the board and is excited to use his knowledge and experience to support the game he loves.
Matt can be reached using the form below, for matters concerning the Coed Divisions and Advertising/Marketing with ABASA.