Houston Hosts U.S. Soccer Association
Elite Soccer Academy Teams
HOUSTON — Ken Krolicki is competing at the highest level of soccer in his age bracket and during the Development Academy Tournament, the University of Houston, he along with his teammates will be bivouacking in the dorms. It will be an introduction to college life. The top eight U-16 academy teams are competing for the national title. All eight teams won regionals in Dallas last week. This tournament, sponsored by the U.S. Soccer Association helps to develop future U.S. National team members. Most will come from this group of players. Krolicki, a senior to be at Canton High School in Michigan has already committed to Michigan State.
In Photo: Mid-Fielder Ken Krolicki is bound for the Michigan State University soccer team.
The speedy midfielder has notched one national championship crown under his belt playing on the 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer U-16 Champions from Michigan. Three other Detroit area soccer players helped the Michigan based Crew-Wolves to qualify for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championships. The Development Academy sponsored youth soccer is the most elite level of age-group participation. They won their regional last week, taking three straight games. Incredibly all four of these players have signed their college letters of intent already. Teammates Blake Townes, Salem High School and Notre Dame; Jimmy Fiscus (Captain), Northville High School and Michigan State; Chase Pagani, Ann Arbor Pioneer and Colgate have also committed to NCAA programs. All four are National Honors Society members.
The Michigan Wolves are sporting a 22-4-4 record on the year. Leading scorers are Kosti Moni with 10 goals and Hunter Barone with nine tallies. Defender Jimmy Fiscus has been a mainstay on defense all season. The Crew Academy Wolves bested the perennial power-team Vardar S.C. for the Michigan title. The team is coached by Lars Richters who played collegiately at Yale. Richters is a veteran coach and soccer administrator. He was honored as Central Region Coach of the Year last season by the U. S. Soccer Association.
“Krolicki has proven he is a winner. He makes everyone on the field pick up their game. He is a great example for his teammates because he never stops,” said Richters.
The tournament games will be played at the Houston Amateur Sports Park, and the championship game will be Saturday, July 20, at BBVA Compass Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo.
By Raymond Rolak
