This past weekend the U16 OPDL boys returned from a successful showing at the Florida Gulf Coast Showcase Classic with 80+ college coaches in attendance. The boys played three games in the round robin. With the first day playing to a 3-3 tie in game 1 versus the 52nd ranked team in Florida (GSA 02 Gunners); on day 2 the boys had a 0-0 draw with the 32nd ranked team in the Florida (Greater Osceloa United Elite) and later that afternoon they had a hard fought 1-1 draw vs one of the top 10 teams in the state picture below (Hobe Sound College Prep). They were not able to progress to the final but the last team the boys played, the Hobe Sound College Prep team ended up winning the tourney beating the 3rd ranked team in Florida and 50th ranked in the US. All of the parents from the opposing teams were very very impressed with the high level of play the boys displayed and said they could not believe we did not get better results.
The team that went was a smaller squad of 14 players and featured – from right to left in white – Sam Swinwood; Ali Audy; Luke Rosettani; Nick Kam; Alex Robb; Simon Ludington; Nathan Frans (yellow keeper); Lars Gierull; Nick Fleuriau Chateau; Aiden Messinger; Matt Ling; Grant Pifer; Dyan Vil (missing from picture Amerigo Zourntos).
Great weather was a blessing and a curse with 27 degree heat on all of the days the boys played. A few of the players have already been contacted by various college coaches to attend ID camps at their respective schools!! Thanks to coaches Kwame Telemaque and Shawn Edward for all of their hard work. The boys are off to New Jersey Easter Showcase at the end of March.