WSA BOYS PROGRAM JOINS ELITE ACADEMY LEAGUE FOR 2021-2022 SEASON

WSA is proud to announce that the boys program has been invited to the Elite Academy League.  The EA is a national league, which has expanded in large part to replace the previous national league, the DA, which shut down operations last March (2020).  

The league includes the top clubs in the U.S. from coast to coast, and will provide WSA Boys program a great structure, competition platform, and exposure opporunity moving forward.  WSA Boys teams will participate in this competition platform beginning in the 2021-2022 season.  More information will be posted soon on coaching staffs, and how interested players can seek team placement on WSA Elite Academy teams. 

WSA BOYS SOCCER & ELITE ACADEMY LEAGUE

WSA Soccer was founded in 1992, and through years held fast to a mission to serve, and to challenge the status quo.  The club currently serves over 2,000 players, and is home to 100+ teams across the state of Oklahoma as one of the more expansive and diverse youth soccer clubs in the region.  The club won the 3X back-to-back-to-back Overall Club Champion titles in the Red River NPL regional league (2018, 2019, and 2020), won a national championship in 2019 (WSA 00 Boys, ENPL) and a top-8 national finish in 2018 (WSA 01 Boys, ENPL). 

"We are excited to be accepted to the Elite Academy. Through the process we are highly impressed with the leadership and believe the EA will produce a platform that is a premier platform for player development in the U.S.," states WSA Executive Director, Ryan Bush.  "This is an exciting moment for the Tulsa soccer community for high level boys players." 

"This is a great next natural step for our club's wholistic programming and development model," said WSA Senior Technical Director, Alex McLaurin.  "This integrates nicely into our current vertical transition model with a semi pro upper arm, and a nationally elite competition platform at the youth ages, all of which integrates into our game model for training and development.  I'm excited to see this competition platform help prompt further curriculum development and player experience at a club in WSA which truly is offering the best for players at all levels."

EXPOSURE & COLLEGE PLACEMENT

Since 2003 WSA has regularly commmitted 30+ players annually to college soccer programs.  Even prior to 2003 WSA was committing large numbers of players.  The WSA 80 boys graduated in 1998 and saw 8 team members on to the college game.  Over the years literally hundreds of players have earned scholarships to play soccer at the next level.  The EA will help enhance WSA's already strong College Search Program through national showcase events, and by attracting regional college scouts to league play.   

 

WSA BOYS PROGRAM HISTORY OF SUCCESS & FUTURE 

The WSA boys program has a tradition rich in history and success.  The WSA 80 boys, one of the first teams to transition through it's entire youth program, has 7 alumni currently coaching for WSA Soccer, and was the first of many WSA Boys teams to achieve national recognition (being ranked top-50).  The addition of the EA to WSA Boys programming is a great step for a program that has achieved such sustained success.  

The first graduating team, WSA '76 Boys (graduated 1994-95), coached by John Rhein, current WSA Elite Girls Director of Coaching, was followed by a slew of age division programs reaching state, regional and national prominence in boys soccer.  Hundreds of WSA alumni have gone on to play college and even professional soccer over the years.  Most importantly the club has noted a high retention rate, high alumni participation rate, signifying a brotherhood that lasts beyond the game.  With the youth program in the waiting wings (see photo below of WSA Youth Academy program) the club is excited for the many opportunities on the horizon for WSA boys soccer. 

The club's graduating programs since the 80's (graduated 1998) have produced an elite record of sustained success state and regionally, as well as several national top-50 rankings:

80's - State Semifinalist, National Ranked 
83's - State Finalist, Nationally Ranked 
84's - State Finalist, Nationally Ranked 
85's - State Finalist, Nationally Ranked 
86's - State Semifinalist
87's - State Semifinalist
88's - State Champions, Nationally Ranked 
90's - State Champions, Nationally Ranked 
91's - State Semifinalist 
92's - State Finalist, Nationally Ranked 
93's - State Champions, Natinoally Ranked, USYS Regionals (5th) 
94's - State Finalist, Nationally Ranked 
95's - State Semifinalist 
96's - State Semifinalist 
97's - State Champions, Nationally Ranked 
98's - State Finalist, Nationally Ranked 
99's - State Semifinalist 
00's - State Champions & Regional Semifinalist & National Champions *
01's - State Champions & National Final 8 *
02's - State Finalist 
-------- Programs Not Yet Graduated ----------
03's - State Champions *
04's - State Champions *
05's - State Champions *
06's - State Finalist 
07's - State Champions *
* Multiple State Championships and/or Multiple Regional League Championships 

Stay tuned for more exciting news and opportunities regarding WSA Boys programming for the 2021-2022 seasonal year!  It's an exciting and great time to be a part of The Side.  

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