Press Releases
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Grand Rapids Crew Juniors U14 Premier Boys Team Makes History by Winning Regional Championship in Pursuit of National Title
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, go to www.championships.usyouthsoccer.org.
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...
Grand Rapids Crew Juniors U14 Boys Team Wins Michigan State Cup - Moving On to Qualifying for Nationals Later This Month in Rockford, Illinois
Grand Rapids, Mich. (June 6, 2008) - Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (GRCJ) are proud to announce the success of the clubs U14 boys Midwest Regional League (MRL) Team. The team has gone through the National Premier league with one of the best records in the country for this age group - competing against top teams throughout the Midwest. Last weekend they firmed up their dominance in Michigan by winning the State Cup. The road to the final came via 4-0 and 5-0 victories with the final being won 4-0.
"This team is really something special and a true reflection of how far soccer has come in West Michigan", said Josh Sheldon, GM/DOC of GRCJ. "Even though it is a GRCJ squad, reality is that some of the players began their development in other local clubs and came together in our colors to become competitive on a Regional and National level. It is really the only way to compete with bigger cities around the Midwest and nationally."
"We are very proud to have a team like this play under the Crew Juniors name and in our colors", said Andrew Arthurs, VP of Business Development and Crew Juniors Program, Columbus Crew. "It is exactly the kind of development we were looking for when we partnered with GRASA and GVP in West Michigan. The plan is to continue to produce these kinds of teams and provide a good soccer environment for all kids involved in our organization."
The team is now getting ready for the Region 2 Championship in Rockford, Illinois, on June 20th - 25th to see if they can qualify for the Nationals in Little Rock, Arkansas later in the summer. The age group of this U14 team consists mostly of next year's freshmen in high school. There is no doubt that many of the school programs will benefit greatly as these young men will go in and have an impact right away.
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...
Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Announcing Addition To Coaching Staff, Appointing George Moni As Boys Technical Director
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (February 2008) - The Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (GRCJ) announced today that they have appointed George Moni as Technical Director. Coach Moni will serve as Technical Director for all boys teams within the GRCJ and provide extensive expertise to the clubs curriculum development. Jeff Brown will be Technical Director for the ladies and continue his job in standardizing club training methods. Together, Coach Brown and Coach Moni will assist Josh Sheldon as DOC in providing the best learning environment for all coaches and players.
“It is a great opportunity for us to bring a coach of George’s caliber into our club”, said Josh Sheldon, GM/DOC of GRCJ. “He has been around West Michigan for a number of years and built a tremendous following because of his ability to teach the game at a very high level. I believe our coaches and young men on the field will learn a lot from George’s calm and methodical demeanor.”
George Moni comes to the club with an impressive resume that includes a USSF A- license and the NSCAA Premier Diploma. He has been President and DOC of Stingers Soccer Club the last five years and provided extensive training, clinics and camps for various high school and club teams locally here in West Michigan for many years.
“I am very happy to be part of an organization that has the best infrastructure, coaching staff and vision for the future”, said George Moni. “This is a great step forward toward unifying an outstanding group of professionals that share such passion, dedication and love for the beautiful game of soccer. I am looking forward to working with Directors Sheldon and Brown in carrying on the tradition and developing a uniqueness of coaching and playing style recognizable by everyone. I will continue tirelessly to provide excellent training and learning environment for all West Michigan players”
In addition to spending more time with individual coaches and their teams within the GRCJ, Coach Moni and Coach Brown will also be working with the new Technical Director for the Columbus Crew and former National Team Player Brian Bliss in the continued effort of improving player development in West Michigan.
Full press release..
Columbus Crew Appoints Brian Bliss First Technical Director in Club History
COLUMBUS, Ohio (January 29, 2008) — The Columbus Crew today appointed Brian Bliss as the club’s first-ever technical director. Bliss, a former Crew player who holds a U.S. Soccer Federation ‘A’ Coaching License, has served as director of coaching for the Kansas Youth Soccer Association for the last year, following a 20-year professional playing and coaching career.
As technical director, the 42-year-old Bliss will primarily support General Manager Mark McCullers and Head Coach Sigi Schmid and the senior coaching staff in the management of player-personnel matters, player assessment and domestic and international scouting. Additionally, Bliss will have a role in the ongoing development of the Crew Soccer Academy program and the Crew’s youth player-development curriculum.
“Brian possesses a well-respected technical mind and shares our vision of a long-term plan to create the most successful player-development program in Major League Soccer, so it is with great enthusiasm and anticipation that we welcome him back to the Crew organization,” McCullers said. “Interfacing with the coaching staffs of both the senior team and youth academy teams, he will be an integral part of a competition staff that is dedicated to achieving the highest possible professional environment for our players and to developing a winning tradition for our fans.”
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Bliss was a member of the 1990 U.S. World Cup team and earned 33 caps with the U.S. National Team, overall, from 1984-95, tallying two goals. He also represented the U.S. at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
His playing career culminated with Major League Soccer’s first three seasons. In 50 MLS games from 1996-98, he scored two goals and added a pair of assists. Both goals were scored during a season-and-a-half stint with the Crew (1996-97), in which he appeared in 31 games. He was traded to New York on July 8, 1997 and finished that season with the MetroStars, then concluded his career with one season in Kansas City (1998).
Bliss began his coaching career in 1999 as head coach of the A-League’s Connecticut Wolves. He then returned to Kansas City, where he served as a Wizards assistant coach from 2000-July 2006 and as interim head coach from July-Dec. 2006. During his tenure in K.C., the club won MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in 2000 and the 2004 U.S. Open Cup.
Prior to MLS, Bliss played for Carl Zeiss Jena (1992-95), Chemnitzer FC (1991-92) and Energie Cottbus (1991) of the German Second Division, Boston Bolts (1990) and Albany Capitals (1989) of the APSL and Cleveland Force of the MISL (1987-88). He played collegiately at Southern Connecticut State University, where he earned a B.S. in economics.
“I am happy to have the opportunity return to the Crew and to the Hunt family,” Bliss said. “Obviously, having spent time playing in Columbus, I have some familiarity with, and ties to, the area. I’m looking forward to the challenge of working with the coaching staff and Mark McCullers to get the Crew back on a winning track.”
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and the U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it will open its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium on Saturday, March 29, when it plays host to Eastern Conference-rival Toronto FC.
Full press release...