Cleveland City Stars are the Professional United Soccer Leagues

Tuesday July 21, 2009

The Cleveland City Stars were pleased to have the Small Wonders Day Care and Preschool kindergarten and school-age students join them at team practice on Monday, July 20^th. The group came to Middlefield Cheese Stadium to watch practice, get a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium and locker rooms, eat lunch and meet the players.

Kristen Kerwin a classroom teacher at Small Wonders, was thrilled with the experience.

"This is just so exciting for the kids," said Kristen. "There aren't many opportunities for kids to actually meet a professional sports team and get to talk to them. Many of these kids would never get a chance like this anywhere else. The City Stars and the director of this program Eric McLellan have really done an amazing job."

After a tour of the stadium that took them through the training and locker rooms, the kids got the opportunity to come onto the playing field and meet the players. As team practice wound down, the players made their way over to the kids to sign autographs and have an informal meet-and-greet session.  Despite having just finished a tough training session, the players were in good spirits as they met the kids, and the entire team came to say hello.

"I'm exhausted," announced City Stars forward Leo Gibson dramatically with a grin as he flopped down on the field next to several delighted girls. "What have you girls been up to today?" he asked. As the kids laughed, Gibson stretched out and lay on the field while he signed their 2009 City Stars yearbooks. "Can you find my picture?" Gibson challenged the kids, a trick question as his photo doesn't appear in the book.

City Stars rookies Kolby LaCrone  and Eric Carpenter were all grins as well as they got to know each child by name. LaCrone took photos with several of the girls, and Carpenter showed off how high he could jump for a group of very impressed boys. It seemed like all the players were having a great time, and Anthony Stovall laughed about how none of the kids could pick out his picture in the team yearbook, mistaking Ricardo Pierre-Louis' picture for his.

"See that's why I always dye my hair," laughed Stovall. "Otherwise there's no way to stick out on this team!"

As the players said their goodbyes and headed to the locker room, they left behind a beaming group of kids. "This was the best field trip ever!" said one boy as he clutched his yearbook. "I got every single player's autograph."

Kerwin was impressed with all the players and the effect they had on the kids. "These guys are just amazing," she said. "I can't believe how down to earth they are. They just worked at practice for two hours and yet here they are, taking time to hang out with our kids. The kids are going to remember this for a long time."

Program Coordinator and Director of Tickets & Marketing Eric McLellan was pleased with how well the day went. "These are great opportunities for us because it allows our players to give back to the community while furthering the development of young children," said McLellan. "It really gives them a chance to have direct contact with people like pro athletes who they wouldn't normally get to spend time with."

If you would like an opportunity to bring your group out to meet the City Stars players, contact Eric McLellan at 330-425-2003.