BEREA, OHIO --  Baldwin-Wallace College’s Head Men’s and Women’s Soccer Coach Reid Ayers had an eventful summer in preparation for what hopes to be an exciting fall season in Berea. Ayers spent the first week of August in Concorde, Mass working with US Soccer at the 2008 U-14 National Identification Camp where the top 120 players in the country were flown in for a week of intensive training and competitive matches with the ultimate goal of being selected to the National Team.

 

“It was quite an honor to be asked to work for the Federation and will be an experience I will always cherish," said Ayers, who is in his seventh season at B-W's coach and is the winningest men's coach of all-time. "To work with the quality of coaches at the event was the ultimate in professional development and was the fulfillment of one of the goals I have set for myself as a coach."

 

Of the 120 players invited, 36 will remain with the National Team and will compete in numerous events domestically and internationally over the next calendar year.

 

Ayers’ selection was prompted by his performance as a Head Coach with the Region II Olympic Development Program in addition to his work with Ohio-North Olympic Development Program (ODP). In the last 12 months, Ayers has directed the 1993 Ohio-North team to a regional championship and led the 1990 Region II team to solid showings at the US Soccer Intra-Regional Tournament held in Orlando, Florida and internationally in Costa Rica. The Costa Rica trip was highlighted by a 2-2 tie with the Costa Rican U-18 National Team. Over the winter and spring, Ayers will complete this year’s cycle as Head Coach of the 1995 Region II team with at least two domestic events where the top 18 players from 13 states will be asked to participate.

 

“These types of experiences definitely help broaden my coaching background and I certainly think they will have a positive influence while building the program here at BW into one of the elite programs regionally and nationally,” said Ayers.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION about B-W Head Coach Reid Ayers, please call him at 440-826-3839 in his office or e-mail him at rayers@bw.edu. You also can visit the B-W Athletics Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics.  FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING US SOCCER, please log onto its Web site at http://www.ussoccer.com/common/stContent.jsp_86-U14NTPText.html