Sting gains national exposure at Disney Showcase
The Sunrise Sting 98/ 99 ( birth year) girls’ soccer team is accustomed to performing at a high level, and the squad continues to raise the bar and elevate its game.
Already ranked second in the state and 38th in the nation in its age group, the Sting was among the participants in the recent Disney Showcase at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. It is considered the top girls’ college recruitment tournament in the country, with more than 150 college coaches in attendance.
Facing theNo. 2 team in the country right out of the gate, theSting battled to a1- 1tieand went on to finish in second place in their bracket.
The squad of 17 players, most of whom reside in Broward County, practice out of Nob Hill Soccer Park.
Despite his age ( 23), Andres Camacho is a veteran coach who has been with the team for seven years. He is joined on the sideline by assistant Diego Phillips.
Camachowas pressed into action at age16 as a fill- in coach for the under- 9 age group squad and has been with the Sting program ever since.
“It wasn’t my intention, but I just fell in love with coaching,” Camacho said. “Iwas16 at the time, and now I just completed my degree at the University of Miami. We were the under- 13 state champions in 2012 and the state runners- up in 2013. The girls are such a hard- working group, and we want to get them some college exposure.”
The teamwas one win away frommaking the national tournament last season, and that loss in the finals has created a motivated team.
“Our goal is to win a state title again and also win the regional competition in Baton Rouge ( La.),” Camacho said. “That would help us make it to the national tournament.”
Julia Grosso, 15, has been with the Sting organization since age 7. The University School freshman and Sunrise resident already is looking forward to State Cup play in March.
“I love traveling around the country and playing with girls who are competing at a high level, which forces you to get better and train harder,” Grosso said. “We’re trying to get our state championship back. This team is like a family, and it’s nice to do something you love to do with people you love.”