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Midwest Wings Win Indoor Soccer National Championship

Midwest Wings 2009 U13 Indoor Soccer National Champions

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The Midwest Wings are 2009 Under 13 Boys National Indoor Soccer Champs. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)– The Midwest Wings Soccer Club Under 13 Boys, which is based in Park Forest, traveled to the nation’s capital the weekend of February 13-15 to compete against the country’s top teams for the National Championships for Indoor Soccer. In order to compete in the Nationals, a team must have finished in the top three for their regional competitions. The Wings Wings did so in Grand Rapids, MI, in December by winning the Regional Championship.

The team arrived a day early to meet Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. at the Capitol Building to discuss the club and team. After taking a team photo, the team was invited to sit and watch as the Stimulus package was debated on the floor and votes were cast. The team was given a private tour of the Capitol and had a fantastic day before entering into the major competition that began the next morning.

The U13 Boys competed with two wins on Saturday with an extremely difficult battle against PSV of Virginia with a dramatic come from behind win. PSV is a very strong and high level team. The Wings had to use every piece of skill, power, and tactics to manage this important win.

An early morning win Sunday put the U13 Boys into the Championship with the Ambassadors from Ohio, one of the nation’s top teams along with the Wings. Played before a crowd of more than 1,000, it was apparent from the start the game would be 40 minutes of incredible soccer. The Wings won the match 7-5 and became the fourth Wings team to have won a National Championship.

“When the match ended I spoke to the players for a brief minute, we took a second to accept it and calm down,” says Director Bill Dekker. “The other team stood in a huddle together and said a prayer.  It was a highly charged atmosphere.”

” When I walked off behind the team the parents and fans from the other team stood at the gate waiting for our boys to come off.  They were clapping, touching them, and some had tears as they kept saying great job, you are the best team we have ever seen, and more.  I have never seen such class in my 20 years of being the Head Coach of the Wings.  The funny thing is, our parents acted the exact same way to them!   It was a very good experience for the entire club.”

The Wings’ U12 Boys competed an entire age group above themselves in the Division 2 U13 Nationals, winning won 2 and losing 1. With that loss, the U12 Boys could not advance, but it was an incredible effort and preparation for U12 Boys for next year.

The Wings will host their 5th Annual Winter Classic this weekend at the Ho Chunk Sports and Expo Center in Lynwood, IL, and U14 Boys, who won their Regional as well, will travel to the National Indoor Championships February 27-March 1, 2009, in Cleveland, Ohio.

The U12 Girls won their Regional Championship and will travel to Canton, MI, for their Championships in Canton, Michigan in March.

Midwest Wings with Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Midwest Wings with Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., at the United States Capitol.
(PHOTO SUPPLIED)

Related: Midwest Wings to Compete in Washington, Meet Congressman Jackson

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