Two weeks ago, Mitchell Wolff was still in Sweden. Wolff, a 25-year-old goalkeeper from Orono, MN, had been playing in the Swedish lower leagues for seven months before returning to the midwest to try out for Forward Madison FC.
“In the winter and in the late end of the year we were playing in 32-degree weather,” Wolff said. “To be honest, I got right off the plane and it pretty much felt the same.”
Wolff wasn’t the only one who came from far away for Forward Madison’s open and invitation tryouts. From Nov. 16-18, aspiring soccer players from the green fields of Columbus, OH, the rec leagues of Saint Paul, MN, the university pitches in Illinois – and of course from Wisconsin itself – came to Breese Stevens Field to try to achieve a dream.
It’s unlikely that anyone came from quite as far away as Wolff.
“It was only a 10-hour trip,” he said. “Getting a chance to represent Madison, it’s a big deal, and there are a lot of guys here trying to seize that opportunity.”
Wolff took part in the Friday’s open tryout – 110 players of all shapes and sizes vying for a handful of spots in the weekend’s invitation tryout. According to Forward Madison head coach Daryl Shore, although the tryout was complicated by a morning snowfall, the end result exceeded expectations.
“I thought the atmosphere and the determination of all of them was pretty cool, and to take four players from that into our invite tryout was a testament to all of those kids’ hard work,” Shore said. “We’re pleased.”
Two weeks ago, Mitchell Wolff was still in Sweden. Wolff, a 25-year-old goalkeeper from Orono, MN, had been playing in the Swedish lower leagues for seven months before returning to the midwest to try out for Forward Madison FC.
“In the winter and in the late end of the year we were playing in 32-degree weather,” Wolff said. “To be honest, I got right off the plane and it pretty much felt the same.”
Wolff wasn’t the only one who came from far away for Forward Madison’s open and invitation tryouts. From Nov. 16-18, aspiring soccer players from the green fields of Columbus, OH, the rec leagues of Saint Paul, MN, the university pitches in Illinois – and of course from Wisconsin itself – came to Breese Stevens Field to try to achieve a dream.
It’s unlikely that anyone came from quite as far away as Wolff.
“It was only a 10-hour trip,” he said. “Getting a chance to represent Madison, it’s a big deal, and there are a lot of guys here trying to seize that opportunity.”
Wolff took part in the Friday’s open tryout – 110 players of all shapes and sizes vying for a handful of spots in the weekend’s invitation tryout. According to Forward Madison head coach Daryl Shore, although the tryout was complicated by a morning snowfall, the end result exceeded expectations.
“I thought the atmosphere and the determination of all of them was pretty cool, and to take four players from that into our invite tryout was a testament to all of those kids’ hard work,” Shore said. “We’re pleased.”
During the weekend’s invitation tryout, the numbers were more limited (only around 38 invitees) and the standard of soccer higher. With several potential roster spots up for grabs, the competition intensified, leaving Shore with some tough decisions to make.
“There were a lot of good players and a lot of different ways of playing,” Shore said. “We were really looking for players that we felt were going to fit into how we’re going to try and play as a team.”
As for Wolff, although he didn’t quite make it past the open tryout, he did take another step toward his ultimate dream: playing between the posts for a high-level pro team.
“I’ve been trying go wherever I can play and develop and contribute to a team,” Wolff said. “[I’m trying] to play at as high a level as I can and at the same time develop into the most talented goalkeeper I can.”
According to Shore, that dream could come true for several of the trialists.
“We felt like we got what we wanted out of it,” Shore said. “We’re hoping there will be a few players from the trials that will end up being a part of Forward Madison.”
During the weekend’s invitation tryout, the numbers were more limited (only around 38 invitees) and the standard of soccer higher. With several potential roster spots up for grabs, the competition intensified, leaving Shore with some tough decisions to make.
“There were a lot of good players and a lot of different ways of playing,” Shore said. “We were really looking for players that we felt were going to fit into how we’re going to try and play as a team.”
As for Wolff, although he didn’t quite make it past the open tryout, he did take another step toward his ultimate dream: playing between the posts for a high-level pro team.
“I’ve been trying go wherever I can play and develop and contribute to a team,” Wolff said. “[I’m trying] to play at as high a level as I can and at the same time develop into the most talented goalkeeper I can.”
According to Shore, that dream could come true for several of the trialists.
“We felt like we got what we wanted out of it,” Shore said. “We’re hoping there will be a few players from the trials that will end up being a part of Forward Madison.”
