Academies helping to increase ODP selections

A number of the area’s players have been selected on this year’s Indiana Olympic Development Program teams.

The full list has now been revealed and there is representation from both Southern Indiana United and Net-Surfers, as well as local players with Louisville teams.

From SIU, Zach Yagle has been selected on the U13 younger boys’ team, while Logan Rauck, Alex Duckworth and Matthew Jerrell are alternates on the U13 older boys’ team. Chase Gosman, meanwhile, is an alternate on the U14 older boys’ team.

Jordan Vejar, formerly of SIU (now Javanon) is on the U16 team, while Vincent Straight and Cray Trimble are alternates.

Net-Surfers has also had a number of players chosen in various age groups.

Alyssa Jones made the U13 younger team, while Jordan Reger is an alternate on the U13 older team.

At U12 level, Amy Leffler, Brittany Albert and Vonda Smith, who played at Net-Surfers last fall, will join the developmental campers in the summer.

Twin sisters Selena and Stephanie Iglesias have been selected as alternates for the U15s, while New Albany’s Taylor Little, who plays with Mockingbird, is an alternate with the U17 girls.

The players will represent Indiana and compete at regional ODP camp against teams from 12 other states in the region.

Net-Surfers U10 coach Jiandong Dai, who will be involved as an assistant coach for the Indiana ODP ‘97 girls, said playing at the state’s highest level will give its players significant experience.

“As far as I know, this is the first time Net-Surfers has had so many players picked for state ODP teams,” he said. “It tells us that we have many talented soccer players in Southern Indiana.”

Dai, who was part of China’s U20 national men’s team coaching staff at one time, said he believes the club has gained a lot of benefit from its academy soccer program. SIU also has such a program, and players who have benefited from the academies are now starting to hit the younger ODP teams.

“Right now, our U9 and U10 teams have around 50 kids,” he said. “There are so many talented players in these groups that could become decent soccer players in the future, and we plan to extend our academy to U12s.

“It gives our talented kids more free space for them play creatively without too much pressure. I believe it will have a huge impact on this area in the future.”