Nation's Top High School Seniors Named to Compete in McDonald's® All American High School Soccer Games
PRNewswire
OAK BROOK, Ill.
May 29, 2003
Seventy-two of the nation's top high school boy and girl soccer players have been named to play in the second annual McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games - Powered by POWERade, scheduled for Sunday, June 15 at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island in Charleston, S.C.
Selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the 36 boys and 36 girls hail from 23 states and represent the "cream of the crop" among seniors competing during the 2002-2003 school year.
"We are pleased to carry on the tradition of honoring top scholastic athletes who excel in their chosen sport," said John Lewicki, Director of McDonald's U.S. Sports Marketing. "The McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games are an outstanding platform to showcase the skills of America's top high school soccer players, many of whom will go on to careers in college and the professional ranks."
"Our selection committee has worked long hours to identify the best players nationwide for the McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games," said Janet Rayfield, President of the NSCAA and Women's Head Soccer Coach at the University of Illinois. "The talented young men and women who will take the field in Charleston will ensure a tremendous event and two highly competitive matches."
Leading the list of All Americans is Zachary Riffett from Brenham High School in Brenham, Texas, the 2003 NSCAA/adidas Boys Player of the Year. Riffett, who is headed to Boston University, helped his team to the state 4A final as a sophomore while earning tournament Most Valuable Player and state player of the year honors. A three-year letterman, two-time all-region and all-state selection, he was the co-district defensive MVP in 2001 and was named Brenham's soccer MVP in 2002.
Other outstanding male players who will represent their high schools in this prestigious game include Jonathan Spector from St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Ill., who will be going overseas to play professionally for English Premier League powerhouse Manchester United; and Danny Karbassiyoon from Northside High School in Roanoke, Va., who will be playing professionally for Arsenal, another of the top English Premier League teams. In addition, there are 23 players from the United States U17 and U18 National Teams.
The All American Girls team is highlighted by Katherine Krambeer, from Osseo Senior High School in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, who will be attending Texas A&M. Krambeer played on the US U16 National Team and most recently was a member of the US Youth Soccer adidas All Star team that traveled to Europe for competition. Her club team finished second in the nation in 2002 and "Student Sports" named Krambeer to the All Tournament Team. Krambeer was the leading scorer in Minnesota high school play and was named Minnesota's "Ms. Soccer". She is also the state long jump champion.
Among the outstanding female players named to play in the event there are a number of U17/U19 US national pool players, including; Elizabeth Guess and Jessica Maxwell who will both be attending the University of North Carolina; Ashley Foster, Amy Burlingham, and Carrie Schmit who will be teammates at the University Texas in the fall; and University of Virginia bound Shannon Foley and Becky Sauerbrunn.
McDonald's is once again teaming up with POWERade, a Coca-Cola brand; adidas, the world's leading soccer brand; and the NSCAA to sponsor this All Star event. Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and adidas all support soccer worldwide and are official sponsors of the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup. It is, therefore, natural for the All Star event to be "powered by" POWERade, "selected by" the NSCAA, and "equipped by" adidas. In addition, Delta Airlines is the official airline for the Games.
"For many years soccer has been one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States, and POWERade is proud to sponsor this event that showcases the top high school soccer student athletes in the country," said David Preston, Senior Brand Manager for POWERade.
The games are scheduled to be played Sunday night, June 15, at Blackbaud Stadium, home of the Charleston Battery of the A-League. The girls' East-West game kicks off at 5 p.m. (EST), followed by the boys' East-West Game, which begins at 7 p.m. (EST). An All American fireworks celebration will immediately follow the games.
Founded in 1941, the NSCAA has grown into the nation's largest coaches organization regardless of sport. Its 16,000 members coach at all levels of the game and are dedicated to coaching education as well as recognizing achievement in soccer. The NSCAA's annual convention is the world's largest gathering of soccer coaches.
adidas will be the Official Supplier of Soccer Products for the McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games. adidas is the leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of soccer products worldwide and in the United States. adidas is also one of the world's most successful sporting goods companies, supplying products for more Olympic sports than any other manufacturer and distributing products in approximately 160 countries.
POWERade, a brand of The Coca-Cola Company, is a system of high performance sports drinks that are engineered to satisfy hydration and energy needs. The Coca-Cola Company is the world's leading non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer, marketer, and distributor and produces more than 230 brands that reach almost 200 countries.
McDonald's is the world's leading foodservice retailer, with more than 30,000 restaurants serving over 46 million people each day in 119 countries. Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent local businessmen and women.
The McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games are managed by Sports Events International.
BOYS EAST SQUAD ROSTER
Name High School Hometown College/
Club
Corey Ashe Edison Academic Center Virginia Beach, VA North
Carolina
William Chiles Spring Brook Silver Spring, MD Rutgers
Issac Collings Oriskany Central Oriskany, NY Syracuse
Adam Cristman Mills E. Godwin Glen Allen, VA Virginia
Steve Curfman Edison Academic Center Raleigh, NC Wake
Forest
Jon Eggert Riverside Greer, SC South
Carolina
Brian Grazier Texas Tech Edwardsville, IL Saint
Louis
Will Hall St. John The Baptist Shirley, NY Virginia
Michael Harrington Edison Academic Center Greenville, NC North
Carolina
Drew Harrison Edison Academic Center Roanoke, VA Virginia
Kyle Helton Edison Academic Center Alpharetta, GA Duke
Danny Karbassiyoon Northside Roanoke, VA Arsenal
Phillip Marfuggi Edison Academic Center Highstown, NJ Clemson
Nathan Norman Rochester Adams Rochester, MI Notre
Dame
Olatomiwa Ogunsola Edison Academic Center Woodbridge, VA Clemson
Jacob Peterson Edison Academic Center Portage, MI Indiana
Georgios Spanos St. John the Baptist West Islip, NY St.
John's
Jonathan Spector St. Viator Arlington Manchester
Heights, IL United
Coaches: Rob Wilcher, TC Roberson High School, Fletcher, NC
Brian Gibney, Shawnee High School, Shamong, NJ
BOYS WEST SQUAD ROSTER
Name High School Hometown College/Club
Chad Barrett Southridge Beaverton, OR UCLA
Taylor Canel Sherman Oaks Sherman Oaks, CA UCLA
Adrian Chevannes Edison Academic Center Fort Worth, TX Clemson
Kenny Cooper Jesuit Plano, TX SMU
Greg Dalby Poway Poway, CA Notre Dame
John DiRaimondo Texas Tech St. Louis, MO Saint Louis
Ian Etherington Chaparral Temecula, CA Notre Dame
Patrick Ianni Lodi Lodi, CA UCLA
Vedad Ibisevic Roosevelt St. Louis, MO Saint Louis
William John Rockhurst Jesuit Overland Saint Louis
Park, KS
Andrew Kartunen San Clemente San Juan Stanford
Capistrano, CA
Alex Matteson Chaminade College Prep Chesterield, MO Saint Louis
Ramon Nunez Texas Tech Dallas, TX SMU
Brandon Owens Edison Academic Center Marietta, CA UCLA
Zachary Riffett Brenham Brenham, TX Boston
University
Marcus Ryan Chatfield Littleton, CO Stanford
Jamie Watson Edison Academic Center Coppell, TX North Carolina
Chase Wileman Edison Academic Center Dallas, TX SMU
Coaches: Mike Davis, Catlin-Gable School, Portland, OR
William Hosea, JL Mann High School, Greer, SC
GIRLS EAST SQUAD ROSTER
Name High School Hometown College
Jessica Bayne Triad Troy, IL Illinois
Ali Christoph Columbus School Columbus, OH Tennessee
for Girls
Megan Connors Westfield Westfield, NJ North
Carolina
State
Nikki Cross Notre Dame Academy Pembroke, MA Connecticut
Heather Ferron Brookfield Central Brookfield, WI Boston
College
Ashley Foster Clarke Central Athens, GA Texas
Elizabeth Guess Athens Academy Athens, GA North
Carolina
Sarah Johnson Breck School Shorewood, MN Dartmouth
Ashley Kennedy Saint Mary's Edgewater, MD Maryland
Katherine Krambeer Osseo Brooklyn Park, MN Texas A&M
Jenny Maurer East Longmeadow East Longmeadow, MA Boston
College
Abi Nicholas Wando Mt. Pleasant, SC College of
Charleston
Laura Odorczyk Our Lady of Mercy Pittsford, NY Harvard
Meghan Pipkens Holt Holt, MI Indiana
Sara Sample St. Mary's Annapolis, MD George
Washington
India Trotter St. Thomas Aquinas Plantation, FL Florida
State
Megan Tuura St. Pius X Tucker, GA Michigan
Catholic
Missy Vierling Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Indiana
Country Day
Coaches: Jack Pickard, Westminster Schools, Atlanta, GA
Frank Ridlehoover, Hillcrest High School, Simpsonville, SC
GIRLS WEST SQUAD ROSTER
Name High School Hometown College
Nadia Al-Lami Harbor Santa Cruz, CA California
Amy Burlington Newport Harbor Costa Mesa, CA Texas
Mary Castelanelli Tokay Lodi, CA UCLA
Marian Dalmy Green Mountain Lakewood, CO Santa Clara
Tina Estrada Washington Fremont, CA Santa Clara
Kari Evans Mountain Ridge Glendale, AZ Portland
Priscilla Fite Mac Arthur Colleyville, TX Texas
Shannon Foley Santa Margarita Rancho Santa Virginia
Catholic Margarita, CA
Anna Key Bishop O'Dowd Oakland, CA California
Stephanie Lopez Elk Grove Elk Grove, CA Portland
Jessica Maxwell Colleyville Colleyville, TX North Carolina
Heritage
Kelsey Rasmussen Bellarmine Prep Gig Harbor, WA Washington
Tiffany Roberts Arcadia High School Phoenix, AZ Santa Clara
Beck Sauerbrunn Ladue Horton St. Louis, MO Virginia
Watkins
Carrie Schmit Grossmont La Mesa, CA Texas
Shari Summers Valencia Canyon Stanford
Country, CA
Nikki Thaden Vickey Poole Clive, IA Texas
Caitlin Ursini San Pedro San Pedro, CA UCLA
Coaches: Maureen McVey, St. Joseph Academy, St. Louis, MO
Frank Dixon, Carmel High School, Carmel, IN
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mirna Aceituno, McDonald's,
630/623-6432; mirna.aceituno@mcd.com
Matt Clay, Golin/Harris,
312/729-4283; mclay@golinharris.com
Warren Mersereau, Sports Events International,
843/225-5348; warren@soccersolutions.com
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990916/MCDLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840 Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990916/MCDLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
SOURCE: McDonald's
CONTACT: Mirna Aceituno of McDonald's, +1-630-623-6432,
mirna.aceituno@mcd.com ; Matt Clay of Golin-Harris, +1-312-729-4283,
mclay@golinharris.com ; or Warren Mersereau of Sports Events International,
+1-843-225-5348, warren@soccersolutions.com
Web site: http://www.mcdonalds.com/