Photo by Army National Guard
The
Upper St. Clair boys soccer team won their state championship for the second consecutive year, and this year added the MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard honor and the "Minuteman" trophy to their laurels.
The Panthers were presented with the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy on Dec. 17, 2013 during a halftime ceremony that only heightened the excitement of a rival basketball game with nearby Bethel Park. Upper Saint Clair High School is located in a suburban area about 15 miles south of Pittsburgh. It serves 1,451 students in grades 9-12 and has a long tradition of excellence in academics, the arts and athletics.
According to the
MaxPreps Freeman Rankings, the Upper Saint Clair team was ranked 12th in the country out of more than 14,000 high school boys soccer teams. This wasn't MaxPreps' first visit to this school, as the USC football team was honored in the 2007 MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions.
Pennsylvania Army National Guard Sergeant Dale Nelson and Specialist Michael Fenton presented the national ranking trophy to team captain
Sam Russell and co-captains
Troye Kiernan and
Robbie Mertz. Head coach Uwe Schneider was nearby, cheering enthusiastically for his team.
And they have every reason to be proud. The Panthers finished their season with a 23-1-1 record and shutout Conestoga Valley 4-0 in the PIAA Class AAA championship game.
Coach Schneider said, "We have an outstanding senior class and team that is deserving of this honor. They are a great unit that plays well together. As a result, they have had a very successful season."
Coach Schneider also cited the team's chemistry and depth as reasons for its success. Indeed the chemistry was apparent to everyone at the presentation as we observed the team's camaraderie and spirited interactions. Sergeant Nelson spoke to the team about continuing to focus their energy and commitment. The team then thanked SGT Nelson and Specialist Fenton for their service to our country.
The basketball game wasn't short on excitement either, as large groups of opposing fans attempted to out-shout and out-shine one another across the gymnasium. Perhaps "camo night" carried some positive energy to Upper Saint Clair's team as they went on to beat Bethel Park 57-51 in this conference game.
As the Army National Guard and I prepared to leave, there were several "goodnights" from parents, staff and athletes who added, "Thank you and we'll see you again next year!"
