Five of Briarcrest High School’s athletes competed in the President’s Day Tournament in Phoenix recently as selected players for the Rush Select National Team. They include sophomores Logan Stoltenborg and Skylar Garner, both of Arlington; and junior Wayne Davis, senior Peyton Moore and sophomore Sydney Ham, all of Collierville.
The Rush Select teams are formed by scouting top Rush players. The program forms all-star teams that participate in various domestic and international events each year. The Rush Select program is like a national team program, only better. Players and coaches from Rush clubs around the country hardly know each other’s names at the beginning of each event, but by the time everyone departs, life-long bonds will have been forged and a new level of play will have been discovered.
Players return to their home Rush clubs with a new understanding of the Rush Way and the Rush Core Values, as well as an understanding of exactly what it means to be a part of the largest youth soccer organization in the world.
Davis and Stoltenborg competed in the U17 Showcase bracket. Their Rush Select National Team consisted of players as far away as Delaware and Alaska. As goalie (Davis) and center back/team captain (Stoltenborg), these student athletes won their bracket with a record of 4-0, both playing all 320 minutes of action and conceding only two goals.
Moore competed in the U18 Red Showcase bracket. Her team consisted of players from coast to coast, including Washington State, Alaska, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The team went 2-1-1 for the weekend, and the girls had a great time meeting other Rush players from across the U.S.
Ham competed in the U17 Red Showcase bracket. Her team consisted of players from all over the country as well: Hawaii, Virginia, Colorado and Washington, to name a few. This team went 3-1, winning their bracket and moving them into the championship game. They fell short by one goal in the finals.
Garner competed with her U16 Rush Select team, which consisted of players from all over the U.S. Her team made it to the finals as well. Skylar played left defender in all four games.
