The Internationals Soccer Club captures international acclaim after figuring prominently in the 2008 Schwan’s USA Cup, held annually since 1984 in Blaine, Minnesota on July 15th through July 19th. With over 980 teams from 22 countries participating, the USA Cup brings out the best teams who travel from all over the world to compete in the largest youth tournament in the Western Hemisphere and the 4th largest youth tournament in the world.

The Internationals, coached by George & Louis Nanchoff took two boys teams to the USA Cup. The Internationals Team consisting of U-10 players Everett Canepa and John Virag of Lakewood, Hunter Gordon and Jacob Gratzer of Olmsted Falls, Marc Ayad of Westlake, Nick Mazzola of Avon, Michael Tricasso of Cuyahoga Falls and Johnny Nelson of Medina and U-11 players Stephanos Gazis of Cleveland Heights, Ryan Cobb, PJ Renz and AJ Turner of Medina and Team Managers John Nelson and Pat Renz of Medina. The team played in the U-11 Boys Trophy Category which is the highest level of competitive play in the tournament.

The Internationals Team advanced to Quarter-final play after defeating teams from St. Paul, MN, White Bear Lake, MN and Colegios, Columbia. In quarter final & semi final play the team defeated premier teams from the Minnesota United and Bangu Tsunami Soccer Clubs before facing an also undefeated team in the championship, the U-11 Pinecrest Premier Team from Pinecrest, Florida, in a 3 - 2 double overtime victory. The Internationals team held an amazing run outscoring opponents 20 to 4 overall to become the USA Cup U-11 Champions for 2008. What makes this accomplishment even more astonishing is the fact that the 2008 USA Cup U-11 Boys Championship Team consisted of players from the Internationals U-10 and U-11 teams!

Coach Louie Nanchoff also took the Internationals U-12 Boys to the USA Cup consisting of Adam Manteghi of Richfield, Eric Campbell and Joey Breisinger of Erie, PA, Brent Nanchoff of North Royalton, Nolan Dyko and Brandon Taylor of Copley, Dobricia Sucevic and Jamison Foran of Lakewood, Mark Barrett of Broadview Heights and Blake Easterling of Barberton and Team Manager Hamid Manteghi of Richfield, who went undefeated into semi-final play where they were defeated in an extremely well fought battle against the eventual champions Wings Soccer Club.

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