After winning back-to-back USL Super Y League North American Championships in 2004 and 2005, Schulz Academy returns to the Super Y League finals looking to 3-peat with their U16 Boys. In addition, Schulz Academy has also managed to qualify their U13, U14, U15 and U17 Boys, earning the distinction as the only club to qualify 5 boys’ teams in the 2006 North American Finals to be held in Tampa, FL from November 17-21.
While Schulz Academy is the only club in North America to qualify 5 boys’ teams in the November Finals, the Chicago Magic (Midwest), Black Watch SC (New England) and Atlanta Silverbacks (South Atlantic) each qualified 3 teams, and the MLS teams D.C. United and Red Bull New York qualified 2 teams.
"This achievement makes us all very proud. Last year we had one team, this year we have 5 teams at the North American Finals, and all 5 teams have the quality to go all the way. The North American Finals of the Super Y League is the biggest youth soccer event of the year. There is no other event where so many top teams from all parts of the country, including Canada, have the opportunity to play against each other. Although we reached already our goal for this year with this record number of teams at the Finals, the most important part for us coaches now comes into place, to give the players the opportunity to show the attending National Team coaches and hundreds of college coaches their talent", says Academy Director, Dr. Josef Schulz.
Schulz continued: "Our boys are eagerly awaiting the opportunity play at the North American Finals. There is a buzz of excitement among the players. The recent superlative performances and goals by former club mate Josmer Altidore, for Red Bull New York in MLS action over the past 2 weeks, has been a source of inspiration for the players. Josmer getting the "Sierra Mist Goal of the Week" is all the players could talk about and several forwards in all age groups have been trying to replicate the goal during practice." Josmer Altidore was part of the U15 Schulz Academy team which won the 2005 North American Finals beating Reading Rage 2-1 and repeating as champions.
"We have many more players at the academy who I think will make very soon an impact in professional soccer. Josmer was the first one, and I am so happy for him to continue his development on the pro level. Seeing all the young players around the country having so much talent, I am very confident that the U.S. National Team will make a big impact at the World Cup 2010 and especially 2014, hopefully with some players from Schulz Academy. America is blessed with so much talent, and with the improvement of coaching all over the country it is just a matter of time when the USA will seriously challenge the big soccer nations for a World Cup Title", states Dr. Schulz.
