Reading Enjoying Successful Season
The strength of the Rage on full display in 2008
USL News Release
Thursday, August 14, 2008
READING, PA – The Reading Rage youth system is duplicating the successes of their PDL team by having an impressive 2008 campaign of their own and sending multiple teams to the Super Y-League North American Finals in Tampa, Florida this November.
The Rage shocked everyone in the 2008 season by reaching the PDL semifinals after not making the playoffs in their previous four seasons in the league. Reading eventually bowed out to the Laredo Heat 2-0 in their semifinal contest, but not before setting the tone for the entire Rage franchise.
Leading the way for the Rage is PDL Head Coach and Boy’s Academy Director Brendan Burke, whose relationship with the players and dedication to the youth system is one of the major reasons Reading is experiencing such a successful season.
“We are trying to create a system where the youth clubs are just as motivated as our senior teams,” said Burke. “They know that they can grow in this system and if they put in the work they can make it all the way through our organization.”
One of those prototype players is forward Corey Hertzog. Hertzog has made his way all through the Rage youth system and is now a forward on the PDL roster. Hertzog is taking his talent to Penn State University for the upcoming school year, where he is one of the top freshmen to watch.
Reading’s success is in large part due to the integration of all of their clubs. The PDL team works will the lower age groups and is a constant presence in their soccer lives.
“Having a PDL club work with the youth system is beneficial in two ways,” said Burke. “To begin with it gives our younger players someone to look up to and it really hones their skills. Secondly, it allows our players on the PDL squad to gain valuable experience as coaches.”
The Rage will send four teams to Tampa this November. Reading’s U-13 and U-17 boys teams will make the trip as well as the girls U-15 and U-17 teams. In Tampa these four teams will try to put the icing on the cake for what has already been a successful 2008 season for the Reading Rage.
|
