MaxPreps Soccer Tour of Champions celebrates Monroe-Woodbury High School

Having upended Clarence 2-0 in the NYSPHSAA Class 2A state championship contest, the 21-0 Crusaders claimed their first boys state soccer title and earned the No. 9 ranking in MaxPreps National Rankings. The 19-1-1 Crusader girls soccer program completed its portion of the boys and girls soccer sweep by outplaying Bethlehem Central 1-0 in the NYSPHSAA Class 2A state title contest to claim their first state championship and secure the No. 30 ranking in MaxPreps' National Rankings!

Its not often that the Tour of Champions celebrates two programs from the same high school at the same time, but such was the case for the Crusaders, who were honored at halftime of Monroe-Woodbury's boys varsity basketball battle with Warwick. The soccer sweep is a true testament to the dedication and hard work of the Crusader soccer programs.

After arriving on campus at around 5:30 p.m., the Tour of Champions began setting up and displaying the eye-catching "Minuteman" trophy, officially known as the Army National Guard national ranking trophy. Then, as halftime arrived, the PA announcer grasped the microphone to get everyone's attention before turning the celebration over to MaxPreps representative Nick Capote.

Capote spoke briefly about all of the accomplishments of the girls and boys soccer programs, and put into perspective just how rare it is for two programs within the same school to receive this national recognition by MaxPreps and the Army National Guard! Before concluding his portion of the celebration, Capote touched on how special it is to be ranked so high nationally and congratulated both teams on winning their first state championships!

Capote then introduced Staff Sergeant Adam Rivera of the New York Army National Guard, who congratulated both programs on their high rankings and their on-field successes before presenting the Army National Guard national ranking trophies to head coach Kenneth Clearwater of the boys soccer team and girls head coach William Mpasiakos. Both squads received nationally ranked rafter banners as well. On behalf of the 14th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard, congratulations to the Monroe-Woodbury High School Crusaders. Your outstanding display of determination, perseverance, leadership and dedication led you to state championships! You are ranked No. 9 nationally out of 16,000 boys soccer teams and 30th out of 16,000 girls soccer teams nationally.