JOHNNIE Soccer Blog
Greetings Johnnies!
Before we get into a program update… We will have a couple of events planned around games this Fall. One at home in September & the other in the T.C. area in October. More details to follow but we would love to see your support & offer another opportunity for you guys to gather to relive the glory days!
GAMES TO CIRCLE ON YOUR CALENDER
September 20th – Home game vs Bethel in Collegeville
October 11th – Away game vs MAC in St. Paul.
Also, in case you missed it on our social media updates… the alumni game & happy hour was so much fun! What a blast to gather with five generations of Johnnies!
Well, the summer is finally here & we are exactly two months away from training camp!
We don’t have a massive update for you other than to let you know what our guys & staff are doing this summer to prepare for a big MIAC season this Fall.
As far as soccer goes, it has been an extremely busy summer so far! There is a selective process being applied to who exactly is invited to training camp in August. Every one of our returning 1st team camp invitees (& some of our incoming freshmen) have been placed on a UPSL or USL2 roster for the summer. The emphasis on playing semi-professional soccer in the summers is something this program will get used to. It’s been positive so far, & in fact 6 of our guys just won the UPSL Midwest West Division, & another 4 finished as runner-up. Additionally, a handful of our guys are playing with Minneapolis City MC2 where they are performing well.
The rookies are also staying busy! The ECNL (Elite Club National League) regular season just game to an end. 10 of the incoming class play at this elite club level & 3 of them are headed to Nationals in Seattle at the end of the month (Ike, Axel & Eli of Minnesota Thunder Academy) which marks their 3rd consecutive Nationals trip. Some of the out of state guys just finished their successful HS seasons where they graduate with impressive personal accolades and State Championships. A few more are headed to US Club Regionals. & the rest are past the halfway mark with their Semi-Professional teams which include, Minneapolis City, St Croix Legends, Blackhawks, Spain Soccer Academy, Joy OT People, Chicago City DL, FC Minneapolis, Granite City.
Non soccer preparation also ramps up soon! The guy’s fitness baselines are all in a good spot, with 65% of them already at a pass or higher. & zero summer cuts so far. There are new stricter rules around fitness standards & coming into training camp below level can get you sent home. The semi-pro regular seasons are more or less completed by mid-July, so early July is when our strength & conditioning segment hits a heavier phase.
Long story short, the guys aren’t just sitting around waiting for the Fall to begin… the guys who are part of the new era of Johnnie soccer are getting after it & we all can’t wait to begin this journey fully with you this Fall. It won’t be a straight line always… but I can guarantee you that we will have a young talented & prepared team for what comes next.
See you this Fall.
GO JOHNNIES!