While the rest of us work off the holiday treats in the malls or shoveling snow, a pair of Springfield sophomores are representing our area as members of the Region II Super Group competition that has opened in Orlando today. Reid Harbach (Springfield SC/Springfield Catholic) and Austin Hart (Springfield SC/Glendale) open play today at 6:30 pm at one of the most important Showcase events in the US.
Austin and Reid are the only Missouri representatives, two of eighteen players for the 1994 age group which has players from 10 states on the roster. There are no Missouri representatives on the 1993 squad. They are part of 144 boys chosen from across the country to participate in this Showcase. Here’s the story I posted on the event in November, while the schedule and additional background information are available below.
adidas Super Group Schedule of Events
Dec. 27, 2009, 6:30 pm -1994 Region I vs 1994 Region II
Dec. 28, 2009, 2:30 pm – 1994 Region IV vs 1994 Region II
Dec. 29, 2009, 10:30 am – 1994 Region II vs 1994 Region III
Dec. 30, 2009, 8:30 am – 1994 #1 vs 1994 #2
FRISCO, Texas (Dec. 14, 2009) — Top talent from US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) will compete in the US Youth Soccer ODP Super Group at Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by the Chelsea Football Club in Orlando, Fla., from December 27-30, 2009. Players in the 1993 and 1994 age groups will compete in preliminary games December 27-29 and seeding will be held December 30.
The showcase event will be played at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex and is among the top recruiting tournaments in the country. This year, the showcase will play host to over 480 boys’ and girls’ teams along with the eight Super Group teams and more than 800 collegiate coaches.
US Youth Soccer ODP is known as the premier identification and development program for the nation’s youth seeking the opportunity to compete at the national, professional and collegiate levels of play. US Youth Soccer ODP is the original Olympic development program and the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer as well as a majority of current and past national and youth team members, as alumni.
US Youth Soccer ODP players participating at the US Youth Soccer ODP Super Group at Disney’s Soccer Showcase have been selected through a series of trials at their local, US Youth Soccer State Association and then US Youth Soccer regional levels.
Great honor and you couldn’t ask for two better young men to represent our state at this tournament. Congrats to Austin and Reid.