As St Louis was blanketed in snow and sub-zero temperatures Sunday, sophomore AJ Palazzolo was was winging his way to Bradenton, FL where he joined the U17 MNT Residency Program. He joins freshman Logan Panchot who was also a member of the 2013 Fall program.
Williams Names 28 Players to U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team 2014 Spring Residency Roster
Twenty-one players return from the 2013 Fall Semester Residency roster and are joined by new additions in McKenzie Gaines, Eric Matzelevich, AJ Palazzolo, Raheem Taylor-Parkes and Jaret Townsend, as well as U-15 Boys’ National Team midfielder Jose Carranza and goalkeeper Eric Lopez.
In 2015, the U.S. will be participating in the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, which serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup for the CONCACAF region.
As noted in the press release, the US Residency Program is designed to prepare the team that will compete for the U17 World Cup in 2015. He has a one semester commitment to start. It comes on the heels of his participation in the Winter Showcase in mid-December.
Palazzolo won a State Championship with CBC as a freshman starter in 2012. He joined the Academy program last Spring in a Developmental role (5 games or less) while playing with the NPL squad before joining the full Academy program this Fall. Terry Michler, his High School coach, offered this feedback on AJ
Very competitive, highly motivated, a winner! Strives to be the best at the highest level possible.
Was rock-solid for CBC as a freshman, starting every game and playing very well the entire season. He raises the level of play and improves his teammates with his mentality, attitude, effort, ability and ambition.
This is an opportunity that will challenge him, but also a challenge that he is very much up to! He will only be better playing with and against the best – this is a great opportunity for him and I am sure he will make the most of it.
AJ first came to the attention of US Soccer in February 2012 when he and Logan Panchot were members of the US id2 National group that visited Spain.
He’s been added to the Representing St Louis Soccer pages I maintain here.
