The Premier Soccer Club in West Michigan
and a non-profit 501c3 organization
Grand Rapids Crew Juniors U14 Premier Boys Team Finish West Michigan's First Ever National Champion Series "Final Four" Appearance 1-1-1 In Little Rock, Arkansas.
After a sluggish start and one bad half, according to the coaching staff, the team won their final game 3-0 against SCSA (North Carolina) via a hat trick from Jason Stacy. The two previous games were hard fought battles against the State Champs from New Jersey and California. A 1-2 loss in the first game where the Crew Juniors held a 26-10 shot advantage seemed to be the unfortunate outcome in the round robin play. The 0-0 tie vs. Arsenal (California) did not help as the team's destiny now laid in other hands.
However a great showing from the first team ever from West Michigan to make it to the National Championship Series and a great tribute to local soccer in general and GVSA in particular for their continued support of good soccer development. We are very proud here at Grand Rapids Crew Juniors to be the first club to present such a team from West Michigan and we congratulate the boys, their parents and the coaching staff for making us all proud of the Gold and Black colors.
Follow the teams progress by clicking here.
Watch the latest National Championship Series video by clicking here.
Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Dan Nederhoed Joining Columbus Crew Team at Major League Soccer's (MLS) SUM U17 Cup
GRCJ U17 MRL team defender and East Kentwood stand out Dan Nederhoed is currently in Colorado with Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew U-17 Team competing against 13 other MLS clubs at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids.
The 14 teams will compete in a round robin group phase, with the four group winners advancing to the semifinals. The champion will take home the coveted SUM U-17 Cup and earns the opportunity to participate in the 2009 Trofeo Quixote U-17 tournament in Madrid, Spain. The second place team will gain entry into the prestigious Super Group in the 2009 Dallas Cup youth tournament in Frisco, Texas. The losing semifinalists will participate in the Dallas Cup U-19 group. The tournament is being hosted at no cost to all participants as Soccer United Marketing covers the costs of player travel, accommodations and other tournament-related expenses.
Dan was selected by GRCJ's DOC and Technical Directors at the request of Columbus Crew. He has had an outstanding season for his club and high school team as a tenacious defender who can also be an offensive threat when he moves forward on the pitch. This 4th of July weekend and upcoming week is a chance for him to show of his abilities in front of many Division I and II college coaches and MLS organizations looking for "tomorrows stars". GRCJ is proud to provide opportunities like this to soccer players in West Michigan.
For more information on the MLS SUM U17 Cup please click here.
GRCJ U17 Premier Girls having fun in Grand Haven during the Soccer in the Sand Tournament
Some of the girls from the GRCJ U17 Girls Premier team spent a beautiful Saturday on the beach winning the inaugural Soccer in the Sand tournament in Grand Haven on June 28th. The tournament was the first of its kind in West Michigan and was a big success with more than 50 teams participating from the U8 age to adult.
The ladies are Allie Green, Holly Prouty, Savannah Swanson, Kinsey Bykerk, Amanda VanLaar, Kaitlin Teichman, Sara Hess, Michelle Marcus, and Sara Nagy and were competing in the girls high school age group.
Grand Rapids Crew Juniors U14 Premier Boys Team Makes History by Winning Regional Championship in Pursuit of National Title
GRCJ U14 Boys MRL Team
Grand Rapids, Mich. (Friday June 27, 2008) – The Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (GRCJ) U14 Premier Team made history on Wednesday by being the first team ever from West Michigan to qualify for the National Championship Tournament in soccer. The team finished an impressive campaign in the Regional Championship final by beating the Wisconsin State Cup Champions, FC Milwaukee by 3-0. The road to the final was equally remarkable as the boys had a goal difference of 19-3 on the way beating the State Cup Champions from South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas.
“We are extremely proud of this team and their accomplishment”, said Josh Sheldon GM/DOC of GRCJ. “It is clear that West Michigan soccer development is right up there with the best in the country. We just have to put the talent and coaching staff together so this can happen in all age groups.” “Talent like this will also help our local high school and college soccer programs” continued Josh, “positive exposure like this is good for all of West Michigan soccer.”
The team will now travel to Little Rock, Arkansas where the biggest stage in National club soccer is set for July 22 – 27. The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series started with more than 10,000 teams last year and will conclude that week with four teams from each National Region. The young men on this squad will represent Region 2 and its 13 States as they go and compete in the U14 age group. For more information on the National Championship Series, click here.
The Players:
Jason Stacy – Forest Hills Central, Jacob Vanderlaan – Grand Haven, Luke Bestrom – Caledonia, Taylor Mazurek – Brighton, Chase Rau – Sparta, Trevor Osburn – Traverse City Central, Sean Conerty – Forest Hills Central, Matt Harkema – Hudsonville Unity Christian, Diego Bobadilla – Holland, Ben Sinclair – Forest Hills Central, Andrew Lewis – Rockford, Hunter Vandenboom – Forest Hills Central, Jeremy Wodarek – Lowell, Nate Rose – Grand Haven, Greg Timmer – Hudsonville Unity Christian, Mike Smyser – Forest Hills Northern, Chad Gordon – Jenison, Caleb Postlewait – Home Schooled.
The Coaches:
Remco Bergsma – Head Coach
Todd Stacy – Assistant Coach
Full press release...
Cleats for Kids
MVP Sports Spot and Grand Rapids Crew Juniors are partnering with "Cleats for kids" to bring gently used soccer equipment to area kids.
If you have unused soccer cleats, balls, shin guards, shorts, socks, or uniforms in good condition, please consider donating them to the Cleats for Kids program. The goal is simple, to provide gently used indoor and outdoor soccer gear for kids that want to play soccer but lack proper equipment. For more information, click here.