DUNBAR, W.Va. — Four West Virginia youth soccer teams have qualified for the championships of the USYS Eastern Regional Presidents Cup at Shawnee Sports Complex.
After four days of competition in Dunbar, the U12 FC Alliance Boys, U16 BVBIA Girls, U17 FC Alliance Girls, and U19 Epic Soccer Club Girls all qualified for their respective championship games in the tournament, with the U17 FC Alliance Girls winning the championship this morning.
Championship games began at 8 o’clock this morning and will continue throughout the day. Both the winners and runners up of the championship games will receive a bid to attend the USYS National Cup in Wichita, Kansas on July 12.
The Commissioners from the Eastern Regional Presidents Cup offered their congratulations to the four hometown teams.
“Congratulations to all those who participated in the Presidents Cup and good luck to all those teams competing in the championship games today. We are proud of the four West Virginia teams in the finals.”
The youth soccer tournament, which hosted more than 100 teams from 13 eastern states, will provide more than just champions for the Mountain State. Kanawha County Commission President Lance Wheeler says the economic impact from the event could be north of seven digits.
“We’re looking at millions of dollars in economic impact just from this Presidents Cup,” Wheeler said on “580 Live” with Dave Allen Tuesday morning.
Along with the economic impact, the tournament at Shawnee Sports Complex has been key for kids in the state to learn the game of soccer. Wheeler says the complex has helped grow the global sport.
“It’s growing. I’m seeing it here, just in our valley, in Kanawha County. I think a lot of that, in part, is do to Shawnee,” Wheeler said. “It’s given a place for kids to go and learn, to play, to experience, and I think Shawnee has grown the sport of soccer here in West Virginia, Wheeler continued.”
Shawnee Sports Complex has seen many sporting events since its ribbon cutting in 2018, and the 2024 USYS Tournament proved to be a big success for the county and state of West Virginia.
Story by Aaron Parker.
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