A boys U-17 club team with 6 former WSA travel players on its roster is headed to US soccer's most prestigious tournament.

    Aidan Fenix (WHS); Jimmy O'Brien, Karl Helfrich, and Matt Elliott (St. Eds); Ty Smith (St. Iggy); and Mark Ilhan (Lutheran West) are members of Everest Soccer Club's boys U-17 team which is one of 4 teams from across the country that will compete for the USSF national championship in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 22-27.

    This is only the second time in the past 10 years that a boys team from Ohio North has advanced  to nationals. Everest U-17 is coached by WSA Director of Coaching John Fenix and travel coach Dan O'Brien (girls U-13 "Rockers").

    The team advanced to nationals by winning the annual Midewst Regional Tournament which was held in Rockford, Illinois, June 20-25. En-route to the finals they beat state cup winners from Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Missouri. In the finals they prevailed over national powerhouse Scott Gallagher.

    The Westlake boys played together from 1998-2004 on the Westlake "Cobras", also coached by Fenix and O'Brien. In addition to the Westlake boys Everest has players from the greater Cleveland area and as far away as Toledo and Erie.

    "To find 6 players from the same travel team on a nationally-ranked, senior club team is highly unusual", said Fenix. "It's testimony to the value -- and rewards -- of skills-focused training."

    Added O'Brien: "It's been an incredible journey that began right here in Westlake. We started out as an average team but never lost sight of the fundamentals. Teams that pummled us as U-9's and 10's fell to the wayside long ago. We were always in it for the long haul. Player development is a marathon, not a sprint."

    If you're still not convinced then go ask these 6 former WSA travel players just before they take the field against the nation's best in Arkansas this summer.