Talbot thrilled with the growth of Soccer Showcase
There were skeptics when Dave Talbot and Kris Linderman of the Olean Soccer Club were looking to launch the NY/PA Corporate Cup Soccer Showcase in 2016. There are skeptics no more.
"It's crazy because I was told by the newspaper in Olean that we would be lucky to get the event started. People had tried in the past and failed to come up with something like this," said Talbot at Sunday's Pennsylvania practices at Memorial Field in Johnsonburg.
In 2017 the first Showcase was held. Just the boys played, but the following year, girls from the two states were included. The growth and interest have led to the addition of two more matches on July 24 at Bradford's Parkway Field. Because of the massive turnout at tryouts, Talbot and Linderman decided to now have Gold and Silver matches.
"It blows my mind that something we weren't sure could get off the ground six years ago now has four games," Talbot said. "I would have never envisioned we would be trying to figure out how to get 160 kids to play on a Sunday in Bradford, but here we are."
The Silver girls will kick off at noon and the boys at 2:30 p.m. The Gold girls start at 5 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.
Players from 13 Pennsylvania and 18 New York schools make up the eight squads. While most summer allstar games feature just recent graduates, the Corporate Cup is open to all grades. Twentythree of last year's seniors, 26 juniors, 19 sophomores, 10 freshmen, and a player who will be in ninth grade make up the four Keystone State rosters. The Empire State roster includes 23 2022 graduates, 24 of last year's juniors, 18 sophomores, eight freshmen, and a player who will be a freshman.
Gold players from Kane are Macie Johnson, Emily Stephenpayne, Josh Greville, and Justin Mishic, who played last year will be joined by Jon Mishic. The Lady Wolves will be represented by Jillian Watts, Raeann Raught in the Silver match, and Isaak Johnson, Ethan Illerbrun, and Aaron Mishic are Silver participants.
Talbot praised the commitment of players, coaches, families, and all involved with the event.
Lady Wolves head coach Brittany Sprankle will assist the head coach for the Gold girls, Jeremy Bickling.
Jeremy Bickling will once again be the head coach for the Gold girls. He'll be assisted by Kane's Brittany Sprankle
He said, "Everything seems to be going according to plan."
Fans will not only enjoy the matches but the pregame ceremonies as well. Each player is escorted onto the pitch by a youth soccer player while music blares and smoke machines fill the air.
As in the past, admission to the event is free. Talbot hopes to see Parkway Field packed on game day.
"Our goal is to have over 2,000 people there. We were close last year, so hopefully, we'll hit that, which would be a huge accomplishment."
More on the Showcase, including posters for each player, is on the Facebook page NYPACORPCUP.
2022 NY/PA Corporate Cup Soccer Showcase PA rosters (2021-2022 grade) PA Gold Girls: Kane - #1 Emily Stephanpayne (Fr), #12 Macie Johnson (Jr); Elk County Catholic – #4 Italia Cicione (Jr), #18 Allison Geci (Jr); St. Marys - #22 Lucia Hayes (Fr), #23 Sophia Radkowski; Bradford – #3 Maddy Cowburn (Jr), #5 Kiara Hogue (So), #8 Bella Prince (Fr), #10 Abbie Nuzzo (Sr), #13 Emily Prince (Sr), #19 Lauren Placer (Sr), #24 Marissa Miller (Sr); Curwensville - #2 Tiffany Bloom (Jr), #11 Breanne Spencer (Sr); Dubois - #7 Kamryn Fontaine (Jr), #14 Stefanie Hoyt (Sr), #26 Jasmine Carney (So), #28 Mariah Allen (Jr); Warren - #16 Hailey Peterson (So), #17 Eliza Brook (So), #37 Georgia Bickling (Jr).
PA Gold Boys: Kane - #19 Jon Mishic (Sr), #26 Justin Mishic (Sr), #30 Josh Greville (Sr); Ridgway – #2 Jack Benninger (Jr), Johnsonburg – #12 Aaron Myers (Jr), #15 Caden Smiley (Sr); Elk County Catholic –#7 Timothy Brannock (So), #25 Anthony Messineo (Jrst. Marys - #13 Mathew Palmer (Sr), #18 Collin Kline (Sr), #28 Aiden Mckay (Jr); Bradford – #11 Andrew Mangold (So), #27 Mitchell Strauss (So); Clearfield - #6 Evan Davis (Jr); Port Allegany - #00 Ty Guilds (Sr), #9 River Cramer (Sr); Warren #1 Will Nebinski (Jr), #3 Mark Lynds (Jr), #10 Jack Darling (Jr), #17 Roman Sheets (Sr), #24 Park Ordiway (Jr), #29 Ethan Best (Jr).
PA Silver Girls: Kane - #3 Jillian Watts (Jr), #8 Raeann Raught (So); Johnsonburg - #12 Ally Notarianni (Fr); Elk County Catholic - #4 Rylie Belsole (Jr), #7 Isabel Cicione (So), #10 Caitlyn Vollmer (Jr); St. Marys - #14 Raechel
Braun (Fr); Bradford - #9 Dawn Flynn (So); Brockway - #1 Paris Stern (Jr), #17 Zoe Puhala (Fr), #18 Josie Orinko (Fr); Dubois - #2 Kara Tilson (Sr), #15 – Ariel Carney (Fr), #23 Riley Maxim (Sr); Port Allegany - #6 Kailey Bartlett (8th grade); Warren - #27 Lucy Bigelow (Fr).
PA Silver Boys: Kane - #6 Isaak Johnson (Jr), #11 Aaron Mishic (So), #29 Ethan Illerbrun (So); Elk County Catholic - #00 James
Foradora (Sr), #9 Bobby Urmann (So); St. Marys - #0 Carter Dush (So), #3 Luke Anderson (So), #5 Jason Mcanany (Fr), #16 Dawson Krug (So); Bradford - #20 Christian Peterson (Sr); Coudersport - #2 Nash Delp (Jr), #22 Micah Batson (So); Curwensville - #10 Andrey Bell (Sr); Dubois - #18 Jay Parekh (Fr), #49 Jay Sheloski (Fr); Port Allegany - #1 Austin Hamilton (Fr), #4 Syrus Sauers (Sr), #12 Jett Ruding (Jr), #13 Kaleb Green (Sr).