Cincinnati United Premier U16 boys soccer team from several area schools wins USYS title

The plot on the pitch had a proverbial Disney ending on Sunday, July 24 when the CUP (Cincinnati United Premier) Gold 06 team led by Moeller High School head coach Mike Welker won the U16 boys United States Youth Soccer national championship at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Florida.

All within a week, Welker had been named on a "40 under 40" list for his work as President of Profill Solutions in West Chester and won the USYS championship. Making it better, three sons were able to visit Disney parks with their mother, see Mickey Mouse parading around the sports complex and run to their father at the final whistle.

As an old ad campaign once stated, it was a good week to "Be Like Mike".

It was CUP's first boys national title and it was done with players that will be predominately sophomores or juniors this coming school season at Elder, Centerville, Anderson, Troy Christian, Lakota West, Moeller, Mariemont, Indian Hill, Mason, St. Xavier, Waynesville and Beavercreek.

Soon, they'll be chasing each other in opposing kits. On this Sunday they were unified with pride.

"We created our own family and found a way to win," Welker said.

The CUP Gold 06 team had to win or come in second in preliminary games at Disney, Lakewood Ranch (near Sarasota) and Cincinnati this summer in order to qualify for the nationals. They came in second to advance to the Florida finale.

"The team we ended up losing to in Cincinnati is the team (KCA Academy Galacticos of Kansas) we beat in the semifinals," Welker said. "So it was a nice revenge tour and we got our revenge there (1-0)."

Prior to the semifinal game, they played the No. 1 team in the country, the Miami Breakers, under the Disney lights. The fireworks were lit with a 2-1 victory that Thursday night.

Sunday's championship game was against National Union out of Michigan, the only team that beat Welker's crew in 2021 (decisively, 3-0). Their payback was a 2-0 defeat sending CUP Gold 06 to the stage with a national championship.

"Our run to glory was to beat the No. 1 team, revenge against a team that beat us this year and revenge against a team that beat us last year," Welker said.

The key to the trophy was defense. While there were pivotal goals and moments, the boys from a collection of schools played as a unit of one. Seven total goals in the three games were scored by seven different players.

"The thing we were most proud of was through five games we only gave up one goal," Welker said. "It was everybody. Every single player played and we committed to team defense. It was truly a team effort. We said, 'If we don't give up goals, we'll have a good chance of winning.'"

Goals came from Kellen Ren of Mason, Teddy Mueller of St. Xavier, Mason Cooper of Moeller, Maddox Miller of Moeller and Alex Free of Troy Christian.

The goalkeeper was Max Miller of Mariemont who won a Golden Glove Award for his net-minding. Interestingly enough, he plays in the field for the Warriors during school play.

Knowing that Moeller is often a top target of most Greater Cincinnati schools, Welker says some found it strange that he would be hugging a Mason or St. Xavier player.

"It's like a second family," he said. "We all want to win. We have a bond that now links us. It's very unique to have that many high schools represented that took part in a national championship."

Now with a national championship from the USYS, Welker is finished with youth soccer but still involved with Moeller's squad which is looking to gather back the Greater Catholic League-South title that has belonged to St. Xavier the past two seasons.

While he was able to visit the Magic Kingdom with wife Megan and sons Mason, Levi and Bentley before the semifinals and finals, Welker is now back whistling while he works on the backfields of Moeller trying to add an elusive state championship.

"I'm done with the club scene now," Welker said. "What a way to go out! It was the ultimate mic drop moment. Now it's bring a title home to Moeller. That's the next step."

CUP 06 Gold Roster

Head Coach: Mike Welker (Moeller)

Assistant Coach: Manoj Khettry

A.J. Mancini (Elder)

Alex Bucher (Centerville)

Alex Dorko (Anderson)

Alex Free (Troy Christian)

Brayden Benner (Lakota West)

Brevin Shinkle (Moeller)

Carter Jerdon (Mariemont)

Connor Wilkes (Indian Hill)

Kellen Ren (Mason)

Lucas Bishop (St Xavier)

Maddox Miller (Moeller)

Mason Cooper (Moeller)

Max Miller (Mariemont)

Nick Feldhouse (Waynesville)

Parker Smyth (St Xavier)

Josiah Rodriguez (Beavercreek)

TJ Bray (Moeller)

Teddy Mueller (St Xavier)

Ty Gronostaj (Monroe)

William Kleeman (St Xavier)

James Knight (St Xavier)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Some of Southwest Ohio's best prep soccer players win USYS U16 title