by Tom Nader
Record-Courier Sports Editor
Some of the best soccer in the entire United States is happening right here in Northeast Ohio.
With a pair of teams that are not only competing at the national level, Everest Soccer Club also is setting the bar for quality in the process.
Everest SC, based in Hudson, but with a collection of Portage County players, manages a under-18 and under-14 team and both of which have made a name for themselves.
The under-18 team is currently ranked No. 1 in the United States by nationalsoccerranking.com and gotsoccer.com.
Meanwhile, the under-14 team is ranked No. 1 in Ohio, No. 8 in the Midwest and No. 33 in the nation.
The two teams compete in a selective group of tournaments throughout the year, with the under-18 team in the midst of its biggest and toughest tourney -- the United States Youth Soccer Association's National Championship Series.
To qualify for the National Championship Series, teams must first win their State Cup, which Everest SC successfully accomplished for the fifth consecutive year.
Next on the calendar for Everest SC is the regional competition held in Sioux Falls, S.D., with winners advancing to the national finals held in Boston.
Last summer the under-18 team became the first Ohio North boys team to earn a trip to the national finals since 1985.
Even better yet, the team became the first Ohio North team to ever play in the national championship game, where it lost to Andromeda SC of Dallas by a final score of 1-0.
"Last year's team went to the regional tournament without both starting forwards, a starting midfielder and a starting defender, said club administrator Dan Johnson. "Several of the other 15 teams at regionals had more soccer talent than we did, but none of them had as strong of a sense of team as we did.
"It was exciting to see how our team bonded during that week last year and they simply would not allow themselves to lose," Johnson said. "I have been around hundreds of teams and none of them came close to being a team as that group last year."
Helping create the memories and the team atmosphere are a pair of Portage County soccer stars -- Kent's Alex Johnson and Aurora's Mark Connell.
Alex Johnson began playing at Everest when he was 8 years old and is one of only two members of this year's team, along with Hudson's Sean Coyle, to make a fifth consecutive trip to the regionals.
"Alex is not a starter, but he plays forward and is the fastest member of the team," said the elder Johnson.
Alex Johnson uses his speed and supreme foot skills to change the pace of the game and create immediate scoring opportunities for himself, as well as teammates.
He will continue his soccer career at Capital University in Bexley.
The under-14 team is littered with local talent as well and are planning a trip next year to England and Manchester United for the Dallas Cup, which is largely considered the top youth soccer tournament in the world.
Expected to make the trip are three Kent residents, who will soon be members of the Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders high school team.
Noah Johnson is a starting forward, Coletun Long is a holding midfielder and Salahuddin "Dean" Habeeb plays midfield and forward.
"Noah, Coletun and Dean were members of the CASA (Cleveland Alliance Soccer Association) all-star team that lost in the regional final last year," Johnson said. "The U-14 team has had a very successful year."
Everest SC is not an accidental success, with the program gaining national recognition long before this year.
The team conducts multiple tryouts each year and consistently attracts the top talent in the area based on its reputation.
"We strive hard to provide the teams with the best environment from coaching to competition," Johnson said. "It is exciting to see the teams take advantage of that and play the way they have."
E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3914