Would that the following inspiring story about Soldan International Studies High School's soccer team would find its way into the national spotlight as an example of all that is good about St. Louis, instead of the uninterrupted stream of negative news reports we have come to expect over the past several months.
The Soldan Tigers are participating in the state soccer playoffs in Blue Springs, MO this weekend, and are scheduled to take on Perryville in the championship game this afternoon. What's interesting about this accomplishment is that it's the first time in the school's history that it has earned a spot in the soccer playoffs, and that this year's team includes players who come from 14 different countries and speak 8 different languages!
KSDK sportscaster Rene Knotte reported on the Tigers' success earlier this week (see KSDK video here), and today in the Post-Dispatch there's a related article about their upset victory over Springfield Catholic in yesterday's semi-finals.
The story of Soldan's evolution over the years speaks to the vibrancy of this city (then and now) and to the possibilities for its future. There are many interesting details about Soldan (located on Union Blvd. just north of Delmar) to be found on its website, including that the school is currently listed among U. S. News & World Report's "Best Schools," and that its many notable alumni include former U.S. Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford, author A. E. Hotchner, former Chairman of the U. S. Federal Reserve William McChesney Martin, and hotelier Harold Koplar (Chase Park-Plaza).
Go Tigers!
Who knew?! Love this story!