KC Names and Achievements of 2008

Photo: Ryan Raybould played professional soccer in Europe in 2008.

• Kansas City Wizards play a full home schedule (other than LA Galaxy/Beckham game at Arrowhead) at Community America Ballpark.


• Kansas City Wizards Juniors begin full year of competition at U15, U16, U17, U18. U19 debut in summer of 2008.


• KC Wizards Juniors U19 finish second in the nation in the U19 McGuire Cup.


• Three Kansas Citians: Molly Campbell (St. Teresa's Academy, KCFC Jazz), Ellen Jantsch (St. Teresa's Academy, KCFC Jazz) and Lauren Fowlkes (St. Teresa's Academy, KC Dynamos) are on the Notre Dame team that finishes runners-up in the 2008 NCAA Division I women's national tournament.


• KC natives and former Wizards (MLS) players Will John (Rockhurst HS, KC Attack, KC Brass, Saint Louis U) and Ryan Raybould (Rockhurst HS, KC Legends, KC Brass, Yale) play professionally in Europe. John with Randers FC (Denmark) and Raybould with Gefle IF (Sweden).


• Rockhurst High School wins the Class 3 (largest class) Missouri State High School championship with a 3-0 win over Glendale (Springfield) in the final.


• Morgan Marlborough (Lee's Summit North, KCFC Intensity) is named The Kansas City Star's Girls High School Player of the Year in Spring of 2008.


• Alex Sweetin (Rockhurst HS, KC Wizards Juniors) is named The Kansas City Star's Boys High School Player of the Year in Fall of 2008.


• KC natives Michael Ferguson (Pembroke Hill, KC Legends, KC Brass, Loyola Chicago) and Eric Sweetin (Rockhurst, KCFC, KC Brass, St. Louis U) are among 50 players on the initial 2008 Hermann Trophy Watch List.


• Benedictine College's women's soccer team wins the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) tournament championship with a 2-1 win over Lindenwood thus qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament championships for the first time in the program's 20 year history.


• Baker Univeristy men's team wins the HAAC tournament championship with a 4-2 win over Graceland and thus qualifies for the NAIA national tournament.


• Park University's men's and women's teams qualify for their respective NAIA National Tournaments.


• Rockhurst University's men's and women's teams qualify for their respective NCAA Division II National Tournaments.


• UMKC men's team qualifies for the NCAA Division I National Tournament after winning the Summit League post-season tournament.


• In December, three local college players: Tom Heinemann (Rockhurst U), Miguel Rodrigues (UMKC) and Austin Williams (William Jewell) participate in the United Soccer League's Player Showcase in Charleston, South Carolina.


• KC natives Matt Besler (BV West, KCFC, Notre Dame) and Seth Sinovic (Rockhurst HS, KCFC and Creighton) are named to the list of players to participate in the January 2009 MLS Player Combine.


• Matt Besler (BV West, KCFC, Notre Dame) earns NSCAA/adidas All America 1st Team, Scholar All America 1st Team and is named the NSCAA Men's Collegiate Athlete of the Year.


• Wizards make MLS playoffs before losing in first round to eventual MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.


• Three William Jewell College players: Josh Howard (Lee's Summit North, KC Attack, KC Brass, William Jewell), Allan Nekuda (Liberty, KC Legends, KC Brass, William Jewell) and Kevin Nekuda (Liberty, KC Legends, KC Brass, William Jewell) all play in a preseason exhibition game with the Wizards.


• U of Missouri and U of Kansas women's teams are at-large selections to the NCAA Division I National Tournament.


• Drake University's men's team receives an at-large selection to the NCAA Division I National Tournament. Drake's 1st NCAA Tournament appearance. Six Drake starters are KC natives: Calvin Clark, (STA, BV Stars, KC Brass, Drake), Luke Gorczyca (STA, KC Legends, KC Brass, Drake), Matt Kuhn (Raytown South, KC Legends, Drake), Kevin Shrout (Lee's Summit, KC Pace, KC Brass, Drake), Garrett Webb (SM East, KC Legends, KC Brass, Drake) and Brian Wurst (Park Hill South, KC Pace, KC Brass, Drake).


• Kaysie Clark (Liberty HS, KC Select Scream) and Shea Groom (Liberty HS, KCFC Intensity) play wih the U15 USA National Team at the 2008 Thanksgiving ODP Interregional Tournament in Coral Springs, Florida.


• Mandy Laddish (Lee's Summit, BV Stars Mallorca) is a member of the USA U17 national team that finishes 2nd in the 2008 U17 World Cup.


• KC Select Scream win Missouri's 2008 U14 Girls State Cup championship.


• KC Kings complete first indoor season in the PASL.


• Lauren Fowlkes (St. Teresa's Academy, KC Dynamos, Notre Dame) is a member of the U20 USA national team that wins the 2008 U20 World Cup.

Article first appeared on www.TheRobleeReport.com .