When James Haupt was four years old his mother took him to a soccer foot skills clinic coached by Jackson girls coach Frank Gagliardi.
“Coach Gagliardi asked all the boys to dribble the ball down the field,” remembered James father Frank. “When they finished he said that’s great James, now use your feet.”
James Haupt’s soccer skills have improved greatly since that early encounter with a soccer ball. Good enough to be recognized as one of the top players in his age group in the United States.
Haupt left Sunday for Bradenton, Florida, to join a select group of players being considered for America’s U-17 World Cup team in 2011. It’s the third time Haupt has been called to Florida to showcase his skills for U.S. Soccer Federation head coach Wilmer Cabrera.
“He went down to Florida in the middle of September,” said James mother Suzanne. “It was a six day mini-camp with 20 other players from around the United States born in 1994. James was one of six that was called back again in October for another ten day camp.”
The mini-camps are used by the U.S. Soccer Federation to identify and select players for invitation into the U17 National Residency Program at IMG Academy in Bradenton. Players selected for the program will live, train and school together for two years as they prepare for World Cup competition. James will learn if he’s one of the players selected for the residency program later this month.
“I’m a forward and I need to work on finishing plays,” Haupt said before leaving for Florida. “I need to get more physical. Those are the things the national coaches are telling me to work on.”
Haupt has been working on soccer for a long time. Beginning in 2002 he played for various Jackson youth soccer teams coached by Ron Gilbert, Jim Anderson and Marcus Walker. He also was a key member of the BOCA United Soccer Club coached by Marcelo Carrera.
Haupt was a starting midfielder/forward on this year’s 19-2 Jackson High School team that ended the season ranked number three in the state. Haupt scored 10 goals and assisted on five others for Coach Michael Biros’ Polar Bears.
Haupt currently plays for the Everest Soccer Club based in Hudson. Everest is the defending Ohio Youth Soccer Association Spring State Cup champions. Haupt is the only Stark County player on the roster.
“I definitely want to play soccer in college,” said Haupt who also plays travel baseball and is on Jackson’s freshman basketball team. “But my dream is to have a career as a professional soccer player.”
The dream continues for James Haupt this week in Florida. The next stop will hopefully be the 2011 U-17 World Cup soccer tournament in Mexico.
