Prep Talk

Prep Soccer Player Competes in Olympic Development Program

Posted April 17th, 2012

 

Current St. Augustine Prep freshman and soccer player Ben Clark of Northfield recently attended the invitation-only national Olympic Development Program (ODP) soccer camp at the IMG academy in Bradenton, Florida. It was a four-day residency program where Ben was able to test his skills against top players from throughout the United States and Canada. Ben, who is 14 years old, played every minute of all four 90-minute games at the camp. ODP is a way to get into the U.S. National Soccer Team program, and the camp was attended by U.S. National Team U-17 coach Richie Williams. Ben was chosen for the camp based on his level of play in last summer’s multi-state Super Y league, during which he scored 9 goals in 11 games. As a sophomore next fall, Ben looks forward to helping new Prep soccer coach Mario Monfardini continue the success of the Hermits soccer program. Ben is also a Presidential Scholar at the Prep.

Photo: Ben Clark (Class of 2015), at center, competes in the ODP soccer program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.