Darlington eighth-grader Connor McWhorter was recently selected to the Georgia Olympic Development Program (ODP) soccer team. According to Scott McCreless, director of YMCA Grizzard Park, McWhorter is only the second person from Rome to make this team at any age division.
"I was so excited to finally make the team that I'd trained so hard for," said McWhorter. "I am looking forward to competing against other state ODP teams and hopefully advancing to region or nationals."
The ODP is a national identification and development program for high-level players which identifies and develops youth players throughout the country to represent their state association, region and the United States in soccer competition.
“Connor made the state pool of approximately 33 of the best players in Georgia born in his calendar year,” said Chad Liddle, Darlington School Soccer Academy director and Region III ODP staff member. “He will train from October through early January and then compete versus other state teams in our sub-region. The pool will then be cut to approximately 24 players who will train from January through July for Region III camp. From these players, the ODP staff selects the top 36-40 players in the Southeast for the regional pool.”
As a second-year member of Darlington School Soccer Academy, a year-round program for serious athletes, McWhorter has played hundreds of minutes of competition versus top U17 and U18 club teams from all over the country as well as colleges, all while being U13 age eligible.
“Last spring, Connor played in the John Talley Showcase against the Jackson (Miss.) Futebol Club U18s, who are ranked No. 16 in the Southeast,” said Liddle. “Connor dominated his player, a senior who had just committed to a Division I scholarship to the University of Memphis. I took great pride in telling the University of Memphis coach that his new recruit was just worked over by a seventh-grader. Connor’s commitment to soccer is really paying off. I look forward to working with him and watching his development as he plays at the top levels in the years to come.”
In addition to Soccer Academy, McWhorter plays soccer for Arsenal Rome and Darlington Middle School. An outstanding athlete, he is also a member of the Middle School’s cross country, track and wrestling teams. He holds two school records in cross country (2-mile) and track (1-mile).
McWhorter is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the National League of Junior Cotillions, and has participated in the Duke TIP Program. He is the son of Brian and Gina McWhorter and the grandson of Larry and Rita Ann Bryant, all of Rome.
