FRANKLIN, TN - Tennessee Soccer Club has named Jon Williams the new U12-U14 Boys Director of Coaching. “We are so pleased to welcome Jon to Middle TN and to Tennessee Soccer Club,” said TSC Director of Soccer Stephen Jordan. “He brings a wealth of experience to this role and we are excited for him to get started.” Williams, a Memphis native, moved back to Tennessee after spending years in the highly competitive Atlanta market working with AFC Lightning as a Boys Director of Coaching. Aside from his vast experience as a coach and director in youth club soccer, Williams has also coached at the collegiate level on the men’s and women’s side of the game at Mount St. Joseph University and Lincoln Memorial University. He holds a USSF "B" License as well as the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, and a Masters in Education Administration & Supervision. Jon currently resides in Franklin with his wife and three children. “Jon is going to make a positive impact on our players and our club right out of the gate in this new role,” said TSC Executive Director Stuart Brown. “He is a true professional and his commitment to the players he works with encourages the exact type of culture we want within our staff.” “I am thrilled with this opportunity to join the staff at TSC, said Williams. “I look forward to working with this great group of U12-U14 players and coaches.” Mike Otto, who has served as the U12-U14 Boys Director since July 2022, and prior to that as Boys Academy Director from 2013 to 2022, will begin transitioning out of his DOC role throughout this spring into a full-time role as TSC Facilities Manager. Otto has spent the last 30 years committed to player development in North Carolina and Tennessee as a Director of Coaching. At TSC, his leadership helped the Boys Academy grow year after year. He has impacted thousands of players in his career, many of whom have stayed involved in the game long after their time with him on the pitch. Otto will stay on as a coach for TSC alongside his duties as Facilities Manager. “Mike has been an integral part of TSC for over a decade now and will continue to make an impact for years to come,” said Brown. “We are very proud of all that Mike has added as a DOC in both the Middle Boys and the Boys Academy programs.”

Premier League Trophy on Display with England International Players Daniel Sturridge and Ledley King in Exclusive TSC Training Event

FRANKLIN, TN - The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) has announced several changes over the past couple of weeks across the landscape of both ECNL and ECNL RL competition. A summary of those changes, along with any changes to TSC's structure, are detailed below. Change of “TSC Nike” Team Name Starting with the 2024-25 season, all “TSC Nike” level teams will now be “TSC ECNL RL.” As you know, we created the “Nike” team name prior to the implementation of the ECNL RL league. We believe it is a logical step to change the names so that they align with their ECNL RL league play, just as we have historically with our “TSC ECNL” teams. ECNL Girls Conference Information (new format) TSC ECNL girls will remain in the Ohio Valley for the 2024-25 season. There is no change in the teams from the 2023-24 season, however there is a change in format with the removal of the North and South Divisions. There will now be one league table of the 12 teams in the conference. Every team will play each other once. ECNL RL Girls Conference Information (new alignment) TSC ECNL RL girls will play in the newly formed Mid-America conference. Clubs represented in the Mid-America are: FC Alliance Germantown Legends Indiana Fire Lobos Rush Mississippi Rush Tennessee SC Tennessee United Tupelo FC Introduction of The ECNL Super Cup (new for TSC ECNL Girls in 2024-25) In addition to the conference realignment, there are also changes being made to the season’s format with the introduction of the ECNL Super Cup. The Super Cup is a conference-based, mid-season high level tournament. Teams that win the Super Cup will receive a direct bid to the ECNL Playoffs. Only TSC’s U13-U19 ECNL girls and U15-U19 ECNL RL girls will participate in the Super Cup in 2024-25. Super Cup Format Teams in TSC’s bracket, where group matches will occur: FC Alliance FC Pride Indy Eleven Winners of the each group will then compete in knockout match for a berth to ECNL Playoffs. ECNL U13/U14 Competition The U13 and U14 age groups will keep the North and South Divisions as currently formatted in the 2023-24 season. ECNL RL U13/U14 Competition The U13 and U14 ECNL RL age groups will follow same format as ECNL RL in the Mid-America Conference. ECNL and ECNL RL Boys Conference Information (new alignment) TSC ECNL and ECNL RL boys teams will compete in the newly formed Mid-America conference. Clubs represented in the Mid-America are: Alabama FC Chattanooga Red Wolves FC Alliance Germantown Legends Lobos Rush Tennessee SC Mississippi Rush (ECNL Only) TSC will continue to have a strong relationship with the Atlanta ECNL clubs and will plan some ECNL matchups to ensure a competitive and healthy schedule. ECNL U13/U14 Competition Format Enhancements (Mid America Conference) The U13 and U14 age groups are enhancing their competition format starting with the 2024-25 season. Teams will now play opponents on a “home and away, plus home or away” basis. ECNL & ECNL RL Town Hall Planned for Early May We will host a town hall meeting for ECNL and ECNL RL families where we will discuss all-things TSC ECNL and ECNL RL. We will cover all of the topics mentioned in this email, along with other important details pertaining to your TSC ECNL and ECNL RL experience.

FRANKLIN, TN – Tennessee Soccer Club hosted its annual Soccer-A-Thon on Saturday at Robert Ring Arena in Franklin, TN to raise money for the Special Olympics Tennessee (SOTN). The event was a resounding success, raising over $22,000 to help the SOTN with its soccer program. Participants filled the arena, with 26 athletes from Special Olympics as well as nearly 50 TSC players and coaches playing and helping run the hour-long clinic. “It is always powerful to watch our coaches and players come together with the Special Olympics athletes for an hour where soccer isn’t the only focus,” said TSC Tournament Director & Events Coordinator Jimmy Drain. “Hearing the laughter, seeing all the smiles, and watching friendships take place on the field are just a small sample of how much fun takes place at the event.” TSC began working with Special Olympics Tennessee in 2016 and has helped raise over $230,000 toward the cause. The current Soccer-A-Thon fundraiser will keep accepting donations until March 1st with a mission to raise even more funds for the Special Olympics athletes and TSC. You can donate here . “We love sharing our enjoyment for the game and look forward to hosting again next winter,” Drain added. “We are so thankful for the support that TSC has given Special Olympics Tennessee over the years,” Adam Germek, President and CEO of Special Olympics Tennessee said. “This support has helped grow Special Olympics soccer and other programs throughout the state. The athletes look forward to the TSC Soccer-A-Thon every year and love the unified experience with TSC players, coaches, and staff. Thank you TSC for being champions for inclusion on and off the field!” Tennessee Soccer Club established the TSC Cares program in 2017 as the philanthropic mission of TSC to aid in Building the Community in the Greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee area. TSC Cares continues to partner with local organizations to positively impact our community. To learn more about TSC Cares, or to join us in caring for the community, please visit our TSC Cares page here.

FRANKLIN, TN – Tennessee Soccer Club has named Guy Garguilo as the new Academy Associate Director and Mikey Alley as the Assistant TSC Nashville Director and USL Operations Assistant. “We are pleased to bring in Guy and Mikey to join our technical staff,” said TSC Director of Soccer Stephen Jordan. “Guy brings some new ideas from his time in North Carolina and Mikey will help in continuing to build TSC Nashville with Coy [Boazman, TSC Nashville Director].” Garguilo is coming from NC Fusion in Greensboro, NC. Guy has served as U11-U13 Boys and Girls Age Group Coordinator, U11-U19 Girls Director, Goalkeeper Director, and was a director at Greensboro United prior to NC Fusion. “I am very excited to get working with the kids,” Garguilo said. “Tennessee Soccer Club has a great reputation. I am happy to join a great staff and helping in any way I can to create a wonderful Academy experience.” In addition to Garguilo’s youth experience, he was a men’s assistant coach at Belmont Abbey College and was the head coach at Stanley Community College. Alley has been a long-time coach for the TSC organization. Mikey began coaching in Harpeth with Southern Soccer Academy, becoming Nashville FC Youth and eventually merging with TSC. “I have been hoping for a long time to join the staff and contribute to the club even more,” Alley said. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve TSC and the players and families and I am excited to get started.” Alley is a Tennessee native, playing goalkeeper at Carson-Newman University and for the Nashville FC NPSL team. Both Garguilo and Alley will begin immediately. View Guy Garguilo's profile here. View Mikey Alley's profile here. For more information on TSC, please visit www.tennesseesoccerclub.org .

Calvin Bettencourt talks with TSC about his experience saving a boy from drowning in Florida over Fall Break Q and A with Calvin Bettencourt We sat down with TSC 2007 Williamson Showcase midfielder Calvin Bettencourt who encountered a life and death situation. TSC: What TSC team are you on? Calvin: I’m currently playing on the 2007 Williamson Boys Showcase team. TSC: Tell us about your experience in Florida over Fall Break. Calvin: Fall break was very fun and relaxing overall. I stayed at my friend’s house with four other friends and we had a great time watching movies, biking around, swimming, playing sports, and doing other activities. On one of the last days of break, however, an incident occurred. My friends and I were playing spikeball on the shore and it was my turn to sit out and let someone else play. I'm not sure why, but I was drawn out to go play with and watch after my friend's little brother and his friend while waiting my turn. On a sand bar that was pretty far from shore, we began playing a game with an inflatable ball the size of a volleyball that would later save our lives. Although I'm not sure how it exactly happened, my friend's little brother got sucked out into the ocean where he couldn't stand. I saw him struggling as waves crashed over his head, so I swam out to him with the ball. I gave him the ball, and told him to hold on to it tight. His friend was also sucked out, although he remained close to the sandbar. I realized we were caught in a rip current, and as I tried to swim sideways out of it, we only got sucked farther out. I decided that it would be best to swim against the rip current to avoid getting pulled farther out, although it was very strenuous. After about five minutes, the boy's friend made it to the sandbar where he could stand again. I yelled after him to get us help, although I knew he wouldn't be able to make it back to the shore for quite some time. I continued to wave my hands above my head and swim against the rip current with the boy in one arm. I began to get exceedingly tired, however I knew stopping wasn't an option. After about ten minutes of struggling, people finally saw my hands waving and two of my friends and about five dads rushed out to come help us. They pulled us back onto the sandbar and helped us back onto shore. TSC: What was going through your mind when you were in the ocean trying to save someone’s life? Calvin: Staying calm and keeping the boy calm was the first thing on my mind. I worked hard to reassure the boy that we would be okay. Of course, I had other emotions and thoughts that I had to push back in order to keep calm. Just the thought and sight of all of my friends having a great time on shore while me and the boy I was helping were in deep trouble felt extremely stressful and surreal to me. As time went on, I felt my energy steadily depleting as we made little progress towards shore. After about nine minutes, I felt my hope begin to waver, however I knew I needed to stay strong for the boys sake. While in the water, I found myself subconsciously praying. I felt a sudden burst of energy and determination as I continued struggling that helped me stay afloat. And now, after everything happened, I strongly feel like there was a greater force at hand. So many things lined up perfectly for me to go save the boy and for us to both return safely. TSC: How do you feel when people say you are a hero? Calvin: Honestly, I don't think I'll ever get used to being called a hero. The whole situation happened so quickly and me swimming out to help the boy felt like second nature. After getting back to the shore, I didn't feel any desire to receive praise; all that was important to me was the fact that both of us were safe and the satisfaction and thankfulness of knowing we could continue on living our lives. TSC: What have you learned from this experience? Calvin: My perspective on life changed greatly as an outcome of the whole incident. I learned just how easily a life can be taken away, which helped me come to grips with not taking life for granted. Before the incident, never in a thousand years would I have thought that I would get close to dying in my teen years. The experience served as a wake-up call for me and since it all turned out the way it did, (with everyone safe), I am glad it all happened as I feel it helped shape me into the person I am today. TSC: What does going through this mean to you? Calvin: I feel that the situation has matured me in various ways. For one, I feel a greater confidence in myself now, knowing that I reacted the way I did in a stressful and dangerous situation. The experience also allowed me to have a greater view of the bigger picture in life. Things I once stressed about have ceased to worry me after going through a situation where I genuinely thought I would die. The whole ordeal means a lot to me as it granted me a deeper dive into my character and taught me a great deal about myself. I feel grateful for the life I have been given, and I am thankful to the experience for these reasons. I feel relieved that the boy is safe and the family of the little boy didn't have to go through the mourning of a lost family member; this relief serves as the greatest fulfillment I can possibly receive. Overall, I feel the situation resulted in positives that outweigh any trauma from our near death experience.

FRANKLIN, TN - Congratulations to all the teams that competed in the 2023 Fall Tennessee State Cup. The Tennessee State Soccer Association released the All-Tournament Teams and Tennessee Soccer Club was well represented. 2023 Fall State Cup All-Tournament Teams 12U Girls D1 TSC Williamson 2012 Girls Premier MA Alyssa Thompson Ryan Wilkes Ellanor Schwinn 12UG D2 TSC Williamson 2013 Girls Premier White Malia Zaghouani 12UG D3 TSC Williamson 2012 Girls Elite JG Nefeli Graves Elle Thomson TSC Williamson 2012 Girls EB Maryn Adams Amelia Duff 12U Boys D1 TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier David Levine Gaius Neloms William Hayman 12U Boys D2 TSC Williamson 2012 Boys Premier Blue Landon Davis Hayden Wilkinson 15U Boys D2 TSC Murfreesboro 2009 Showcase Kaeden Linstead 16U Boys D1 TSC Williamson 2008 Boys Showcase John Thomas Parkerson 17U Boys D1 TSC Murfreesboro 2007 Boys Showcase Grayson Gibson TSC Sumner 2007 Boys Showcase Daniel Vasconcelos TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Showcase Logan Macy 17U Boys D3 TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Elite Zach Arents Jack Landers Jake Solan Peyton Rudiger 18U Boys D1 TSC Murfreesboro 2006 Boys Showcase Brian Pleitez Decklan Hand Sam Melek TSC Nashville 2006 Boys Showcase Yeferson Gavarrete 19U Boys D2 TSC Murfreesboro 2005/2006 Boys Showcase Erreguin Jesse 19U Boys D3 TSC Williamson 2005/06 Boys Premier Ryan Link Bryan Mendez

MURFREESBORO, TN – The Tennessee Soccer Club Williamson 2012 Girls Premier team triumphed on Sunday, earning the Tennessee State Soccer Association Fall State Cup Championship at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro. The girls, competing in their first state cup tournament, won the championship in dramatic fashion in a penalty kick shootout against rival FC Alliance. The U-12 team advanced to the final after a 5-0 victory over Tennessee United Soccer Club in the semifinal match. “We are very proud of the girls who were able to lift the trophy in their very first year of state cup play,” said U12-U14 Girls Director Dean Blain. “What a great achievement for that group as they begin their journey at the older age groups.” Five other TSC teams advanced to their respective championship matches. The TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier White team fell in a heartbreaking penalty shootout and the TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier Blue was edged in their final. Both U-11 teams played up a year in the U-12 age group. TSC Murfreesboro 2006 Boys Showcase and TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Elite also were finalists on Sunday. On Saturday, in the U-19 Division I final, the TSC Williamson 2005/06 Boys Showcase team traded goals in an entertaining game, finishing 3-3 through regulation and overtime, going to another penalty shootout. Luck was not on their side, however, as the team was not able to capture the championship, finishing as finalists. Overall, TSC crowned one champion, had five finalists, five semi-finalists, and seven quarterfinalists. “All of our TSC teams competed hard throughout the tournament and represented the club well,” Director of Soccer Stephen Jordan said. “We are looking forward to the older girls beginning their seasons and now we focus on the winter and spring.” State Cup Champions 2012 Williamson Girls Premier State Cup Finalists 2005/06 Williamson Boys Showcase 2006 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase 2007 Williamson Boys Elite 2013 Williamson Boys Academy Premier White 2013 Williamson Boys Academy Premier Blue State Cup Semifinalists 2005/06 Williamson Boys Premier 2012 Williamson Boys Premier Blue 2012 Williamson Girls Elite JG 2012 Williamson Girls Elite EB 2013 Williamson Girls Premier White State Cup Quarterfinalists 2005/06 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase 2006 Nashville Boys Showcase 2007 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase 2007 Sumner Boys Showcase 2007 Williamson Boys Showcase 2008 Williamson Boys Showcase 2009 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase For more results from the 2023 Tennessee Fall State Cup, click here .

FRANKLIN, TN – Tennessee Soccer Club made history this weekend, hosting its largest Music City Invitational presented by Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics bringing in more than 3,500 players and over 11,700 visitors to the Murfreesboro area. The annual Halloween themed event utilized Richard Siegel Soccer Park in Murfreesboro, TN, one of the top soccer facilities in the southeast region. The event also used Orchard Bend Park in Antioch, TN and Middle Tennessee State University. “We are very proud of this year’s Music City Invitational,” said TSC Tournament Director & Events Coordinator Jimmy Drain. “It continues to grow year after year in both size and quality. We hope everyone enjoyed the great weather and wonderful facilities including Richard Siegel Soccer Park, one of the premier soccer facilities in the region.” In total, 276 teams from 12 different states and 59 soccer organizations represented the tournament field. The annual Music City tournament continues to grow with the 276 teams up from last year’s event by 40 teams, and 113 teams from 2021. In total, TSC has hosted nearly 1,000 teams at the last three outdoor tournaments (998 total teams). “The number of teams and clubs choosing TSC tournaments is a testament to the competition level, great facilities, and overall experience,” Drain continued. In addition to play on the fields, as a part of its TSC Cares initiative, TSC partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to host a food drive in conjunction with the tournament, helping collect non-perishable food items for families in need. TSC will host the Winter Indoor Series in December, January and February, and its next outdoor tournament, the Tennessee Invitational in Franklin, TN and Brentwood, TN the weekend of May 3-5. For more information about TSC tournaments and events, click here .