When a group of players gathered for an optional club skills and 3v3 session on Friday, February 19, it was the first time in months that cold Arctic air didn’t govern training.  The slowly warming weather signals the beginning of the spring season, and players and teams are emerging from various indoor soccer facilities and gymnasiums to begin consistent outdoor training. Credit many of the older teams for braving freezing temperatures in January and February, but now that the snow and ice have melted, younger teams can finally join them outside.
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After a memorable career with the Knoxville Football Club, Luke Mishu has announced that he recently committed to Notre Dame University.  Mishu, who won five state championships with John Craven’s KnoxCrush-Liverpool team, ended an intense recruiting battle for one of the best soccer players East Tennessee has ever produced.  He chose Notre Dame over Indiana, Northwestern, Princeton, and Michigan State.

Although he is a student at Knoxville Catholic High School, Mishu said that picking Notre Dame is more than just a Catholic connection.

“Once I went to visit the campus, I knew it was a perfect fit for me,” he said.  “Notre Dame has always been at the top of my list of colleges because of its consistent soccer prestige and academic excellence.”

One of the hardest parts of his decision was turning down a legendary Indiana program, winners of seven national championships and owners of the best all-time winning percentage in NCAA soccer.  The Hoosiers recruited the KnoxCrush player as hard as any college, keeping constant contact throughout the entire process.  Mishu, who eventually hopes to attend medical school, felt that Notre Dame offered a better overall package.
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When Aaron Schoenfeld played for Knox Crush, he was a prolific goal scorer for a team that not only won multiple division one state championships, but also sent 15 of 18 players into college soccer.  When Schoenfeld took the field for Bearden High School, he terrorized opposing defenses on his way to all-state honors and a state championship.  So it is no surprise that he has continued his goal scoring ways in Division One college soccer.

After graduating high school in 2008, Schoenfeld chose to play for East Tennessee State University over the likes of Memphis, George Mason, Coastal Carolina, and Radford.  His decision clearly was the right one, considering he was the second leading scorer for the Buccaneers as a sophomore in 2009.  For a local player, this is a monumental achievement, considering some of the things ETSU accomplished this season.  Led by explosive players such as Schoenfeld, they tied ACC power Virginia Tech 1-1, and took national semifinalist North Carolina into overtime.

“Knox Crush is very proud of what Aaron has accomplished at East Tennessee State,” Director of Coaching Shane Moore said, “He is representing the club and the city of Knoxville very well.”
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In August of 2005, when Coach Darrick Lubell introduced his KnoxCrush 99 “Portugal” team to the club, most saw a somewhat wild, although promising, group of boys.  Although it was evident they would eventually grow into a strong team, few had any idea just how good they would become.  Less than five years later, the KnoxCrush 99 boys have become one of the strongest teams in Tennessee.
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Save the Date!

The KnoxCrush 10th-Year Celebration
February 20, 2010
Saturday evening from 7 to 11 p.m.

Featuring great music performed by
The Vibraslaps

- Casual attire
- Exciting auction items
- Drawings for great prizes

Click here for more details!

KnoxCrush is pleased to announce the hiring of Stephanie Sparkman as the new club administrator and registrar.  Sparkman is an athlete herself with a background in basketball. Professionally she is an environmental engineer for ALCOA, a self-described soccer junkie, and parent of one of KnoxCrush’s U-16 boys.  Sparkman brings a strong commitment to serving the club and building on the wonderful job that outgoing administrator Deb Moore has done.  KnoxCrush thanks Moore for her years of service to the club and wishes her well with her upcoming delivery.

Sparkman was chosen from an outstanding applicant pool and the club feels fortunate to have so many talented parents in the club wishing to use their skills for the benefit of the players.  The personnel committee was overwhelmed with the number and quality of the applicant pool and had a very difficult time making this decision.  Please join us in welcoming Sparkman to her new role within the club.

In one of Tennessee’s toughest age groups, the heralded U16 boys division, Knox Crush boasts one of the deepest player pools in the state. The club featured two teams that both made serious runs at state championships in November. Not only did the Knox Crush 94 Blue team go unbeaten in division one state league and state tournament play, the Knox Crush 94 Orange went all the way to the division two state championship game. Rarely does a club produce two teams in a single age group that both make deep runs in state tournament competition. “We’ve are very proud of the players and coaches of the U16 age group,” said Knox Crush Director of Coaching Shane Moore, “They’ve done a lot of good things this season.”
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