STATESBORO, Ga. – Tormenta FC Academy’s Dodge Brooks was invited to compete with the nation’s top U17 stars on Monday morning in the MLS NEXT Fest Best of U17 Showcase in Indio, California.
TFC Academy’s U16 and U17 MLS Next Boys teams competed in the MLS NEXT Fest from December 2-8, The seven-day event featured over 300 of the top youth teams across the United States and Canada.
Brooks represented the East and saw 45 minutes of action. Despite a 5-4 defeat, the Tormenta FC Academy product was able to assist in the fourth goal of team east. The 16-year-old midfielder provided a speedy pace throughout his time of play and with the best players from all over the East coming together, the technical and physical attributes were very much on show.
“Dodge has been with the academy for 9 years now,” TFC Academy’s U17 MLS NEXT Head Coach Jordan Melia commented. “Dodge has taken pieces from the multitude of coaches he has had throughout his years, and continually developed his game to become a really important person in our academy. He now becomes the third academy player to represent Tormenta FC in an MLS Next Best of game. We are thrilled for Dodge, his team-mates who continually push each other every day, and the organization as a whole.”
This selection shows that there are opportunities at Tormenta FC to compete at the very highest level of youth soccer in the U.S. and should excite and inspire our other players to continue trusting the process. Shafer Gottlieb and Osmar Martinez previously represented Tormenta FC in MLS Next Best of game at previous showcases.
“The experience in competing at the MLS NEXT Fest provided a very important opportunity to help me compete against the best players in the nation. I am very honored to have been selected to represent Tormenta FC in the Best of game last Monday. I want to thank my coaches and teammates as they helped me prepare for the game.”
Committed to raising the level of soccer locally and across the country, Tormenta FC Academy has programs available from age two all the way up to age 19 and is the only youth academy in South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina with a path to the professional ranks. For additional Academy news and content, follow Tormenta FC Academy on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.For additional information and scheduling interviews, call (301-237-0539) or email epintor@tormentafc.com.