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9

Apr, 2019

2004 RUSH SELECT GIRLS TRAVEL TO GERMANY

2004-GIRLS-GERMANY-2019

The Girls 2004 Rush Select team traveled to Germany March 25 - April 1, 2019 to play matches against some of the top youth teams in their age group and experience the football culture in a European country known to live and breathe the sport as players and fans.


Matt Mittelstaedt, Technical Director (TD) of Virginia Rush and one of Rush Soccer’s four National Technical Directors (NTDs), and Nicole Lukic, TD of Rush Wisconsin West and the Rush Select Coordinator, head coached and assisted, respectively.


Mittelstaedt had this to say about the group’s overall experience:


“The overall soccer experience was amazing!  Being able to compete against the up and coming girls of German soccer was fantastic.  The event allowed the girls to be submerged in the German soccer culture with the facilities, fields, and families.”


Lukic added, “The soccer culture on the trip was fantastic.  Some of the highlights included touring the BVB training center and stadium, seeing the U17 Bayern Munich team compete, and having dinner with our opponents after our matches at their local club house.  It was a great opportunity for our Rush Select players to see what soccer looks like outside of the States.”


The roster included players from across the United States, from 8 different Rush clubs:


GK Ariel Martin - Colorado Rush

GK Sarah Castlen - Phoenix Rush

Rami Rapp - Colorado Rush

Elizabeth Rapp - Colorado Rush

Catherine Rapp - Colorado Rush

Celeste Nader - Georgia Rush

Neena Damodaran - Georgia Rush

Robin Blair - Montana Rush

Ellie McCluey - Montana Rush

Evie Ewing - Mississippi Rush

Anna Wheatley - Mississippi Rush

Noelani Keliikuli - Idaho Rush

Amanda Franks - Virginia Rush

Katherine Mentel - Wisconsin Rush

Grace Mentel - Wisconsin Rush


The Rush Select ‘04 Girls faced several opponents during the trip, including SGS Essen U15-17 Girls, FFC Frankfurt U15-17 Girls, and Eintracht Frankfurt U15-17 Girls.  Beyond playing the game, the team watched a U17 Bundesliga match FC Bayern vs FC Augsburg, and traveled to Dortmund, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, Munich, and Dachau (among other cities and towns) for historical tours and sightseeing.


Anna Wheatley, a Mississippi Rush player who has experienced a few Rush Select trips in her playing career, expresses her appreciation for these Rush experiences:


“Being able to travel with Rush Select on their international trips have been experiences that I’ll never forget.  On our recent trip to Germany I was able to see how passionate about the game their players are at all levels, from the matches we played to the tours of the top professional academies.  Being challenged by such good teams on the field definitely brings out the best of our Rush core values like passion, tenacity, leadership, unity, and respect. Bonding with teammates during the week while getting to learn about the German culture and some of its history was great, and I have made some relationships that I know will last a lifetime.  Thank you Rush Select, and go Rush!”


Over the course of an 8 day trip, the ‘04 group came away with more memories as a team, a better understanding of German culture, and unforgettable experiences as they stepped into the culture of football in Europe.