TUMWATER, WA – The Oly Town Artesians announced on Wednesday a youth soccer partnership with professional arena soccer club the Tacoma Stars. The series includes three one-week camps across June, July and August at Pioneer Park in Tumwater, WA. The 2023 Summer Camp Series which starts June 26th will feature head director and pro arena soccer player Alex Megson and an array of professional and pro-am players as camp coaches. Artesian USL W and USL League Two players will be on hand each day speaking with youth soccer players about advancing their game and college recruiting tips.
The Stars are a Major Arena Soccer League club based out of Tacoma who play at the Showare Center in Kent, WA. Multiple Oly Town USL players have played their winters with the Stars in the pro level MASL including Gil De La Luz (2022-present) and Sebastian Navarro (2022). Oly Town and the Tacoma Stars are offering each camper free admission to the June 30th USL W League Oly Town match in Olympia, WA at South Sound Stadium. The USL W Artesian team features division one collegiate female soccer players and are currently ranked #9 in USL National Rankings at 4-0-1. The team includes professional soccer player Mariah Lee who played for the OL Reign, Celtic and Sporting Huelva.
The Tacoma Stars are named after the original Tacoma Stars that played in the 1980’s and 1990’s who still hold the record for the most watched indoor soccer game in history at 21,000 people in 1987. Oly Town and the Stars have a professional-amateur connection through the Western Indoor Soccer League where the Artesians compete against the Tacoma Stars Reserves. The rivalry is a fun, energetic environment but has been set aside to focus on youth soccer development here in 2023.
“Better together” said Artesians Owner Ryan Perkins. “Especially when it comes to youth soccer in Olympia which in many ways feels like an island outside of Seattle/Tacoma. To draw in the pro experiences that Alex (Megson) has had in his career as well as a professional and division one college coaching staff is a fantastic opportunity for Thurston County youth soccer players.”
The connection between the clubs has been around since 2014 when the Artesians were founded and entered the Western Indoor Soccer League however the connection between Alex Megson and Ryan Perkins goes back to their childhood soccer playing days in Northeast Tacoma in the 1990’s.
“Ryan and I played years ago together with the Seattle Sounders Academy in Bremen, Germany” said Alex Megson. “It’s nice to work together in this regard for the next generation of soccer players.”
The Tacoma Stars Summer Camp Series starts June 26th, with a second week starting July 24th and a final camp in August on the 14th. Pioneer Park is located in Tumwater, Washington near the Deschutes River. The Deschutes is ironically the river that feeds into Tumwater Falls where the Olympia Brewing Company used to brew Olympia Beer. The Artesian crest and name is inspired by the old, historic brewery.
“To offer youth soccer players an experience with professional and pro-am level players is amazing” said Perkins. “Neither club has a complete youth soccer offering with youth teams and coaches but equally important is specific skills training, drills and game play and especially to get notes and feedback from professionals that’s been in their shoes once is priceless.”
Camp options are for Ages 4-6 (Future Stars) designed for intermediate level instruction. Ages 7-15 (Player Development Group) is available as well with a more advanced set of training. There are full and half day options depending on your child’s schedule. The tuition for full day camp is $355 and half day is $245.
“Expanding into Olympia with Oly Town will benefit our regions youth” said Megson. ” We’re pumped to partner with Oly town and excited to see their USL matches this summer as well.”
2022 Stars Camp with Oly Town Artesian Landen Sexton
Information regarding signing up for these Tacoma Stars Youth Camps can be found online at olytownfc.com or by clicking here.
Reminder to follow both the Tacoma Stars and Oly Town FC on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for updates.
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