USL News Release
Friday, November 15, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – The Grand Rapids Crew Juniors, one of the top soccer clubs in the Midwest, will place elite-level U-20 teams in W-20 (women) and the Super-20 League (men), beginning with the 2014 season. The teams will train and play at MVP Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Crew Juniors girls DOC Lewis Robinson will serve as head coach of the W-20 team, while boys DOC Steve Herdsman will lead the Super-20 squad. Robinson served as head coach and Herdsman was his assistant with the Kalamazoo Kingdom W-20 team that captured the championship this past July.
"The club is very excited at the opportunity to expand into the Super-20 and W-20 leagues this year,” Robinson said. “Forming these two teams at the top of our development process will allow for our players to compete at the highest U20 level throughout the summer. It gives the younger players in our club and community something to look up to and support and also brings a way for our current club alumni playing in college to come back and remain a part of the club.
“We are excited about the prospect of the two teams in the summer and think both groups will be very talented and exciting teams to watch."
As the premier U-20 leagues in North America, W-20 and the Super-20 League provide the necessary platform for top 17- to 20-year-olds in the United States and Canada to compete at an elite level, while also serving as a reserve system for professional and senior adult-amateur teams.
“Having worked with Lewis and his W-20 team during the 2013 season I am delighted to have our 2013 W-20 champions return next season under their own club’s structure and guidance,” W-20 Senior Director Amanda Duffy said. “Lewis has proven he can put together a very competitive team and I look forward to seeing their efforts expanded upon next year as they represent the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors.”
“The Grand Rapids Crew Juniors have a history of proven success with their youth teams, on and off the field, and I expect them to make a seamless transition into the Super-20 League,” Super-20 League Senior Director Ryan Brooks said. “The club’s relationship with the Columbus Crew of MLS only strengthens our confidence that the Crew Juniors will be one of the top teams in the Super-20 League.”
The Grand Rapids Crew Juniors soccer club (formerly GRASA and Grand Valley Premier) was formed more than 20 years ago when the founders identified the need to offer children a venue to learn sportsmanship, teamwork and gain a sense of achievement. The club has evolved into a major non-profit (501c3) community sports organization of more than 1,200 children and their families. In 2007 the club became the first official affiliate of the Columbus Crew’s player development system, one of the most innovative and comprehensive player development systems in the country.
Any players interested in trying out for the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors W-20 and Super-20 teams should contact Lewis Robinson at lewis@3lionsacademy.com. For more information, please visit www.grcrewjuniors.org.