5
Jan, 2020
Internationals SC features players from all over Ohio and Pennsylvania. Players do come from all over Northeast Ohio, but also from Columbus, Mansfield, Erie, and Pittsburgh to name just a few. Some players travel over two hours one-way to train at the club.
Annamarie Williams, who hails from Natrona Heights, PA, travels nearly 150 miles one-way to practice with the club. Her father, David Williams, spoke highly about the club and shared the reasons why the family travels so far.
“I could go on and on, very impressed with ISC,” Williams said. “I think the world of Zdravko (Popovic) and his approach. Their offering for children is so deep, for all skill and talent levels. Zdravko, Keri (Sarver), Jitka (Klimková), Mark (Platts), and Jared (Rose) are a great group of coaches. Layer in April Heinrichs when she is able to come and support the kids.”
“I love their motto: all for one, one for all,” Williams added. “We need more of this in the world today. Togetherness. Soccer is the biggest team sport out there, so it all starts with that motto.”
Mia Bhuta and her family spend 12-16 hours a week traveling to the club from Pittsburgh.
“In the Ohio and Pennsylvania region, Internationals has always had a good reputation for youth soccer development, especially for young females as a member club in the ECNL,” Bhuta said. “However, for us as a family the familiarity of the Internationals came more into focus when I played on the same futsal and 3v3 teams as players from Ohio and the products of the Internationals. Specifically, I formed a friendship with Emma Stransky and Emily Brewer, and a mutual respect for each other based on a familiar style of play.”
Bhuta was first introduced to Sarver during her time at the U.S. Soccer Training Center camps.
“For us as a family it's about finding the right environment for this stage in my development journey,” Bhuta continued. “I was invited to several U.S. Soccer Training Center camps that were run by Keri Sarver. Immediately after the first session, I connected with Keri's style and learning the development principles of U.S. Soccer and the national training staff. I wanted to pursue more in the sport and I felt the pathway to my goals would require spending more time under the eye and training of people and a club with a history of developing female players at the highest level. In addition, beyond soccer, entering into teenage years it was important for me to observe and learn from successful, independent female role models. Keri, Zdravko, and Jitka as coaches and playing on the same team as my friends Emma and Emily with the Internationals was a natural option in the journey.”
Olivia Neidhardt spends anywhere from nine to 15 hours a week traveling from the Columbus area.
“I chose Internationals because I wanted to play at the club that I felt could best prepare me for soccer at the collegiate level,” Neidhardt said. “The Internationals play in the ECNL, the highest level of girls youth soccer, contend for national championships, and have one of the best coaching staffs in the country. The culture of this team is completely unique to any club I have played for in the past. Every player has a strong desire to get better and gives their full effort each and every practice. Every girl on this team is going to play DI college soccer and that’s kind of a big deal.”
“Every day I get the opportunity to be coached by coaches who have experience coaching for the U.S. youth national teams as well as the full national team,” Neidhardt added. “Every practice is well thought out and challenges me both technically and tactically. I have also been taught a multitude of new concepts and terminology since joining the team last season.”
Louisville, OH native Abbie Bergert has earned a plethora of awards at Canton South HS, including First Team All-Stark County, Second Team All-Stark County, First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-District, The Canton Repository All- Stark County Girls Soccer Team, and All-Academic Eastern Buckeye Conference honors. She tallied 17 goals and 17 assists in her first two high school seasons. Her parents, Chris and Jen Bergert, spoke highly about their move to Internationals SC.
"We feel that the long travel time to be a part of Internationals is well worth the sacrifice for Abbie,” Bergert said. “She was looking to become part of a club that would provide her with the highest training, teammates of similar skill and drive, and the best opportunities possible to showcase her skills. Internationals was a perfect fit and we can clearly see over the past year how much she has grown as a player."
Hanna Wahib is one of the players from the Youngstown area and her mother Nina Wahib spoke highly about her family’s experience at the club.
“We first found out about ISC when Hanna played against them when she was 11,” Wahib said. “At that time, I was so impressed with ISC’s passing skills. They were so quick and exact. When Hanna was 12, she said she wanted to tryout for ISC. Hanna said ISC is the best team and she wanted to be part of to better herself. We knew the hour drive would be a struggle, but it was worth it.”
All of this shows why the Internationals SC family continues to grow and prosper thanks to a deep talent pool that spans hundreds of miles and two states.