THOMPSON NAMED TO REGIONAL SOCCER TEAM

A Cape Girardeau youth became the first area soccer player to be named to a Regional Olympic Development Soccer Program during a soccer camp this summer in Edwardsville (Ill.).

Jon Mark Thompson, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Cape Central Junior High, was the only Missouri youth chosen to the 26-player Regional Olympic Development Program team. The camp, hosted by Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, featured approximately 300 players from 13 states in the region.

Twenty-two coaches from different national, university and club teams chose the regional squad. The states represented at the camp were: Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Thompson made it to the regional squad as a member of the Under-14 Missouri State Olympic Development Program. Thompson made the state team after qualifying through three different stages. Cities, such as, Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis hosted the tryout camps

"The qualifying started in Cape and then we went to St. Louis," said Jon's father Ed Thompson. "From there we went to tournaments and that's how they pick the kids that go to regional camps."

According to Thompson, every state selects a team. From there, those teams participate in one of four regional camps nationally.

While the regional team honors some of the best talent around, it will not partake in any games.

Despite making the team this year, Thompson has not been guaranteed a spot next season. A player must qualify every year for the state and regional clubs.

Thompson is currently playing in one of the top youth soccer leagues in the United States, the SLYSA out of St. Louis. Playing for the Dominoes, a club team sponsored by Domino's Pizza of Cape Girardeau, Thompson plays midfield.