Twelve players from the Sporting Kansas City Under-18 Academy team will continue their careers on college campuses across the country this fall. Wednesday marked the initial signing date for prospective student-athletes and the following Sporting KC Academy products have committed to collegiate programs:
Andrew Dittemore (Missouri State, NCAA Division I): A senior at Gardner Edgerton High School, Dittemore will join a Bears team coached by Jon Leamy and looking to repeat as five-time Missouri Valley Conference regular season champions. The 6’3 goalkeeper was labeled the “top goalkeeper in the Midwest” by Top Drawer Soccer last year and has been a member of the Sporting KC Academy since 2011.
Matt Lewis (Fordham, NCAA Division I): A 14-game starter for Sporting KC in the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy, Lewis attends Rockhurst High School. The 6’2 defender joins the Rams, coached by Jim McElderry, and will compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
A special college commitment ceremony will be held for these players and their families on Feb. 10 at the Three Points Club (1511 Baltimore Avenue) in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
Established in 2007, the Sporting KC Academy is the official youth development program of the reigning MLS Cup champions and features four teams from Under-12 thru Under-18 playing in regional and national competitions. Led by Director of Coaching Jon Parry, the Academy teams train and host home matches at the Swope Soccer Village. Five former Academy players have been signed to professional contracts by Sporting Kansas City.
For more information on the Sporting KC Academy, visit SportingKC.com/academy and follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter and Instagram.
