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Both the United States Women's National Soccer Team and the under-23 men's team are preparing for play in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games between July 24 and Aug. 11 across seven stadiums in France.
The ladies have a tough bracket to get through as the team will face either Morocco or Zambia on July 25, Germany on July 28 and Australia on July 31 in Group B play. Germany is currently ranked No. 5 in the world and Australia No. 12.
"Every draw in a world championship tournament is challenging, and we have a great respect for all three of our opponents,'' interim U.S. coach Twila Kilgore said.
Germany has also won a FIFA Women's World Cup and Olympic gold. Both Germany and Australia have always played closely with the Americans. It will be a battle to get out of the bracket. Only six of the teams in the 2024 Olympic games are returning teams from the previous Olympics.
The United States Men's National Team qualified for the Paris Summer Olympics for the first time in 16 years. The team clinched a spot by winning the CONCACAF under-20 championship earlier. It will be one of 16 nations competing for an Olympic medal.
During their last participation in the 2008 Beijing games, the U.S. men could not make it out of group play. Their best finish was in the 2000 Olympics in Australia where they reached the semifinals.
Locally
n Alex Bartlett, director of Northern Blair County Recreation Commission, said the Tyrone area has increasing numbers of youth taking part in spring play. The area has 67 players taking part in travel teams from ages u-8 to u-17. It has 147 players ages 5-12 taking part in recreational leagues and 57 players registered in the 2-5-year-old Little Kickers play. In total, it has 247 players taking part in NBCRC programs this spring.
n The Northern Blair County Soccer Club will be running its fourth annual 3 vs. 3 soccer tourney on June 22-24. Each year, with entrance to the tournament, participants are given a free all-day fun pass to Delgrosso's Amusement Park. Family members have the opportunity to purchase a pass for $20. Questions on the tournament can be answered at abartlett@nbcrc.
The 3 vs. 3 tourneys are extremely popular, and it is very simple to form a roster for a team. The tournament will be at the Northern Blair Rec Center, and entry fee is $125 per team with the following age groups: u-8, u-10, u-12, u-14, u-16, u-18 boys and girls.
n The only area team playing in a national classic league premier 1 conference, the FC814 Team Energy girls, has begun spring play. The team dropped its first two games, but the defending PAWest state champions are on a three-game winning streak, beating the team currently in first place. The Energy's remaining game is against BVB International Academy out of Pittsburgh at Hollidaysburg's Tiger Stadium on May 18.
The top three teams in the Great Lakes Conference will go to the national championship playoffs next year. The Energy, after winning the Great Lakes Conference and state championship, came one game short of playing for a national championship last year. The team has played teams from all 50 states and was ranked in the top 50 teams nationally.
No other squad in soccer has ever reached this level of success, and with youth teams now being inducted into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame, consideration must be given to Team Energy.
Tom Schmitt writes a monthly soccer column for the Mirror.