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Congratulations, Joe!

Dreams do come true...even for local soccer players! Harrison sophomore Joe Bendik, and last year's varsity goalkeeper, got a great Christmas present. Joe was invited to join the U.S. National Soccer Team Residency Program in Bradenton, FL. >

Joe played goalkeeper for both Harrison High School and the Cobb Futbol Club U-16 Chiefs Gold. Joe was first noticed by the U.S. National Team scouts while playing for Cobb FC. Joe has already moved to Florida, leaving behind his family and friends in Marietta.

Joe transferred all his high school classes to the Florida school system and started his first day of residency on January 2nd, 2005. His daily schedule will start with breakfast and school and studies in the morning. When school is finished he will go straight to the soccer fields for intense and demanding sessions with the national team's coaching staff. This program treats each player as a true professional and Joe will find them monitoring his diet and doing performance tests every week.

Joe started his soccer career playing for the U-10 Chiefs Gold at Cobb Futbol Club. His team played in major national tournaments and are currently ranked 9th by Got Milk Soccer and 26th by National Soccer Ranking. Last summer his team toured the UK playing games against top British teams as well as visiting Manchester United and being coached by their staff. Joe also was selected to play on the Olympic Development Program State and Region III teams. As the starting goalkeeper for the Region III team, they won the Regional Championship last July in Alabama and Joe will compete with the Region III team in the ODP National Championship in Dallas, TX in March.

Joe will be sorely missed this season, but we wish him and his family well as Joe strives to one-day play for the full U.S. National Soccer Team!