FIVE LOCAL soccer standouts were selected to take part in a prestigious interstate soccer match between Southeast Tennessee and Northeast Georgia. Cleveland coach John Brose, Raiders Seth Goza and Sterling Hines, Bradley’s Miles Christian and Cleveland native Arturo Rocha were all honored with selection to the team.
The boys “all-star” match will be comprised of 18 graduating senior from 11 different area high schools, and will feature a few local highlights for the Bradley County soccer fan.
Cleveland High School head coach John Brose was selected to head the team, and is excited for the opportunity to coach such a talented group of individuals on such a big stage.
“It is going to be an absolutely great event for local soccer. It was an honor to be selected as the coach. I was thrilled. It’s going to be a great day and should be a lot of fun for anyone who can make it out,” Brose exclaimed.
He won’t be the only source of Raider pride on the day, as forward Seth Goza will also take the pitch as one of the 18 players who got the invitation to take the field for Tennessee.
Goza will be joined by his crosstown counterpart Miles Christian, who made the team with another strong season for the Bradley Central Bears. The duo will provide the team with two talented forwards who both know how to find the back of the net.
Cleveland defender Sterling Hines was also selected to take part in the match, but an injury suffered in the last game of the season will keep him out of action.
Rounding things out is recent Lee signee and Cleveland native Arturo Rocha was also selected to take part in the prestigious game. Rocha played high school soccer for McCallie but will be returning home to continue his academic career.
“Several of these guys are going to keep playing in college, but for some of these guys this is a fantastic last hurrah for their competitive soccer playing. It’s awesome to have so many of our local guys selected to represent us,” Brose said.
The all-day soccer extravaganza will tie into Chattanooga’s semi-pro soccer club, Chattanooga Football Club. The festivities will kick off with a girls All-Star game starting at 1:30, the boys will take the field at 3:30 and Chattanooga FC will round things out, playing at 7 against South Carolina representative Myrtle Beach FC. It will be the first meeting between the two teams.
According to Brose, anyone interested in making the trip to Finely will only need to purchase a single ticket for all the day’s soccer action.
“It’s a really cool event that generates a lot of local excitement. To be able to attach our local kids to a program like Chattanooga FC is really cool. It’s going to be some great soccer,” he stated.
