New event aims to help soccer recruiting process

The questions kept coming at Grand Island Senior High boys soccer coach Jeremy Jensen.

"The kids I coach at the high school have continuously come to me asking ’How do I get noticed by college coaches?'" he said.

Jensen decided to find a way to provide an answer.

That answer is the first Islander Showcase Classic. It will be held at the Fonner Park Soccer Complex next Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. each day.

Jensen based it off of showcase events from larger states like Texas where games are organized and a large number of college coaches are invited to attend and scout potential recruits.

"I thought that they do it in other states, why not central Nebraska," Jensen said. "I worked with (Hastings College men's coach) Chris Kranjk and started there. He helped with a lot of the ground work. Now we're spreading the word, putting things together and hope to do this every year."

The showcase is for non-graduated players. Each participant in the tournament filled out a bio that includes statistics, contact information and academic information. That will be available to the college coaches.

"We have invited over 50 schools to come and watch," Jensen said. "The coaches will have rosters, so if they are interested in No. 8 on the Blue team, they'll know exactly who he is and can look up his information.

"It's a two-way street. We have a database of the colleges who are coming. The coaching information and each coach's e-mail and phone number are available. The kids have some responsibility (in the recruiting process) as well."

Six teams will compete in the Islander Showcase Classic. There will be a Grand Island team made up of players from Senior High, Northwest and Central Catholic. Also participating are Kearney, Columbus, Elkhorn, Lincoln East and Lincoln Southwest.

The public is welcome to attend and watch the matches, which last until 6 p.m. on Saturday and until 3 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information on the Islander Showcase Classic, go to www.grandislandsports.org

Contact Dale Miller