The Georgia Olympic Development Program (ODP) recently selected eighth-grader Allison Wetherington to be part of the Region III Team and national player pool. The ODP is a national identification and development program for high-level soccer players which identifies and develops youth throughout the country to represent their state association, region and the United States in soccer competition.
According to Chad Liddle, Darlington School Soccer Academy director and Region III ODP staff member, Wetherington is ranked among the top 45 players in the country born in her calendar year.
"Allison is a player with the on-the-field vision and tactical awareness of senior women's National Team-level players," Liddle said. "Allison deserves every bit of her success in the game, for she is always working hard to improve. She has not only trained with the older boys and girls in the Soccer Academy, but she also stays after practice once or twice a week to get individual training. It is her tremendous work ethic that inspires her success."
Wetherington, who has been playing soccer since age 4, has spent the last four years competing in GYSA club soccer with the North Atlanta Soccer Association and playing for Darlington School Soccer Academy and the Georgia ODP.
“I was surprised to make the Region III Team and even more excited to make the national pool,” said Wetherington, the daughter of Sally and Gary Wetherington of Acworth, Ga. “It happened very fast. I went to the Region Camp where I was selected for the Region Team. We were told that 25 of the region players would be selected for National Camp in California. When my parents picked me up, I found out that they had already sent me airline tickets.
"I got to fly first class with two other players from Georgia," she continued. "When we arrived, we were outfitted with Nike National Team gear and we got to meet the National Women’s Team players before their departure to China for the Olympics. This has been a great experience for me already. I love the intensity and the competitive nature of soccer.”
