Storm Soccer Academy Team in State Final Four
Storm Soccer Academy is proud to announce that the ‘99 Boys Black team is in the Final Four for the U16 Boys Georgia State Cup. The semifinals and finals will take place this coming weekend, June 4th and 5th, at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. The Georgia State Cup will crown one state champion at each age group and gender. The Georgia State Cup is the first leg of the journey to capture the title of US Youth Soccer National Champion. Teams entered from all over the state in ages U13-U19, and Storm is the only club outside the Metro Atlanta area to have a team make the Final Four.
The ‘99 Boys Black team is led by head coach, Ben Freakley, who is also the head coach of Tormenta FC, Statesboro’s new PDL professional team. The ‘99 Boys Black has players from throughout the Low Country area including Savannah, Hilton Head, Statesboro, Bluffton, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Ridgeland, and Evans.
The team has a history of excellence, and hope to take home the State Champion title to Savannah this weekend. In 2014, they were the State Cup Runner-Up. In 2013, they were a State Cup Semi-Finalist. In 2013, they were the US Club Soccer Southeast Regional Champion.
This team has earned multiple individual honors this season. Juan Zuniga, from Bluffton, is on the U15 Boys’ National Team. James Brighton, from Hilton Head Island, is on the Tormenta FC PDL roster at the age of 16, making him the youngest player in the PDL. Multiple players on the team participate in the Olympic Development Program (ODP), and have taken domestic and international trips with Region III ODP. James Brighton and Ethan Smith, from Evans, represented Georgia in 2016 US Youth Soccer ODP National Championships. Jesus Morales, from Hilton Head; Dominic Claudio, from Hilton Head; and Juan Zuniga represented Region III in Costa Rica at the 2016 International Soccer tournament. James Brighton represented Region III in the international tour that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
James Brighton has verbally committed to attend Clemson University, and Alexis Jimenez, from Bluffton, has verbally committed to attend Mercer University.
Storm Soccer Academy was created in 2010 to service players who want to excel in soccer at the highest levels. Its creation has provided numerous participants with the opportunity to train locally and compete at the highest level regionally and nationally as they develop and graduate through our program. Storm Soccer Academy seeks soccer players between the ages of 2 and 18 who wish to reach their potential and are committed to seeking excellence through our specific curriculum. Storm Soccer Academy draws players from around the Low Country and provides training opportunities in Savannah, Hilton Head, Pooler, and Statesboro.
