Twenty-one recent graduates of the Darlington Soccer Academy have signed to play soccer in college. The Soccer Academy celebrated the following students on May 17:
- Rory Anderson – Binghamton University
- Mitchell Crispin – Transylvania University
- Khalil Dabdoub – Belmont University
- Ben Davis – Transylvania University
- Gonzalo del Pozo – IE Business School
- Anthony Dias – New Buckinghamshire University
- Mason Duval – Elon University
- Delia Ebbin – Alabama A&M University
- John Engerman – St. Bonaventure University
- Will Gakio – Millsaps College
- Sarah Slater Hicks – Birmingham Southern College
- Lane Koch – Huntingdon College
- Beth-el Lewis – Gardner Webb University
- Grace McClellan – Louisiana State University
- Kennedy Moore – Grambling State University
- Kyla Reynolds – Samford University
- Kinley Sanders – Colorado Christian University
- Aaron Stafford – Fordham University
- Rahdriq Turner – Berry College
- Grace Wagshul – St. Lawrence University
For the past 15 years, the residential soccer academy has welcomed students from all around the world for focused training that Head Coach Chad Liddle says the students wouldn’t get elsewhere. Part of the goal of the academy is helping students find placement at the right colleges for them.
“Ultimately, it’s what we do,” Liddle said. “I take more pride in where we place kids and helping them to the next step in their lives than tournament or season wins.”
Liddle says it’s rewarding to place students all around the country at their dream schools. Over 250 students have gone on to play college soccer since the academy started. Fifteen graduates have gone on to play soccer professionally and over 25 have played or currently play for a national team.
College is an important focus of the Soccer Academy, but they have an impressive season record, as well. This year, both boys’ academy teams ranked first in the state for club soccer and the girls ranked third. The teams play all across the nation, from Florida and Georgia to California and Nevada.
College is an important focus of the Soccer Academy, but they have an impressive season record, as well. This year, both boys’ academy teams ranked first in the state for club soccer and the girls ranked third. The teams play all across the nation, from Florida and Georgia to California and Nevada.
