LOGAN— After winning the Utah State President’s Cup for the first time in its history, the U-15 Premier Infinity Soccer team is on its way to compete in the Regional President’s Cup, set to begin June 12, in Denver.

“The competition level will be good, very high, considering the teams we will be playing are all President’s Cup winners,” head coach Sherri Dever said. “We’ve never competed at this level before.”

There are expected to be about seven teams competing in the tournament – each a Western state champion.

“I expect us to play our best. I know we can win it, but no matter what we’ll be able to learn more about the sport, have more experiences, and meet so many different people and teams,” U-15 team member Carly Richins said.

Infinity captain Katelynn Whipple expects hard competition, as well.

“We’ll play our best and do our best on the field. We need to stay focused at each practice and show up prepared,” she said.

Dever has coached the U-15 team for two years, but said she has been coaching a lot of the girls on the team since they were nine years old.

“We can never play more than our best. It is possible to lose a game and still be proud of how we played – that’s what is important,” Dever said. “The one thing we want to see on the field is that they’ve played their best.”

The Infinity team hammers out an average of three practices, along with three cross-fit sessions, per week. Training is year-round, excluding the three-month high school soccer season in the fall.

“It’s hard to balance soccer with the social part of high school. There’s just so much going on,” team member Gentri Green said. “It’s hard to keep my grades up and to go out and do things. But it’s worth it. We are all each others’ friends.”

On top of the practice hours for the Infinity team, seven of the team’s players participate in the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, or ODP, every weekend.

ODP players include Jordan Brown, Samantha Burton, Chelise Dever, Rebecca Jenson, JanaLynn McKay, Carly Richins, and Infinity captain Anna Davidson. The ODP consists of the state’s most elite soccer players, who train every Saturday in different cities throughout Utah.

Chelise Dever said she plays for ODP in order to improve her fitness and soccer skills, and “just to play soccer.”

McKay added simply, “It’s for the love of the sport. That’s it.”

Eventually, the state’s ODP players can be selected to play for the national team, and participate in international soccer tournaments. The program provides professional training, and, according to the Infinity girls, a lot of fun.

“At this age, college exposure and collegiate opportunities are what we’re focused on. The girls are registered with Captain U, where they can invite coaches to come watch them play,” Dever said.

Captain U is a sports recruiting program that allows athletes to communicate with college coaches and recruiters throughout the United States. The program is a big advantage for the girls as everyone on the team hopes to pursue their sport in college.

“Passionate, is the word that describes these girls,” Dever said. “They have a desire to play at the highest possible level. That’s what they’re working for.”
“We’ve played soccer our whole lives,” Chelise Dever said. “It’s in our blood.”

The Infinity Soccer Club begins teaching soccer skills to children with inner-club games starting at age three.

“It’s for fun. We don’t promote competition at that level. We just teach the kids how to play the game,” Dever said.

Most of the Infinity Academy programs occur during the spring and summer seasons. Prices for participation range from as little as an annual fee of $240, up to $480 for upper level elite teams. For more information about getting involved, visit www.infinitysc.com, or www.infinitysc.org.

“We want to thank coach Sherri, (assistant coach) Jennie Jenson, our families, and all of our friends,” Whipple said. “I really enjoy soccer and being active. If I didn’t have soccer I have no idea what I would be doing.”

The team is currently training for their next tournament, scheduled from Feb.18-20. There will be 32 teams, all from outside of Utah, in Infinity’s bracket alone. The tournament will be held at the Kellogg-Zaher Sports Complex in Las Vegas.

Story by Shayna Marcure
Photos courtesy of Sherri Dever

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