Mike Wielgus 10/20/96 - 3/28/13

3/28/13 - U.S. PARMA mourns the loss of their beloved Cavalieri Team Captain Mike Wielgus. His life was cut short due to cancerous brain tumors.

Mike joined U.S. PARMA in 2009 when the Cavalieri team was formed. Mike's positive outlook and personality was an immediate impact both on and off the field. He was a true leader in every sense and aspect. He played the game with strong passion and he brought out the best in his teammates.

In the summer of 2010, Mike was selected by Club Affiliate Coaches from Atalanta B.C. and Inter-Milan to attend a week long training program in Italy. (2011 Italy Trip)

U.S. PARMA President, Phil Iuliano, "Our hearts go out to the Wielgus family. The loss of Mike is devastating to the club and all of our members. This young man was an inspiration to all of us prior to his illness as well as after he was diagnosed with life threatening cancer. His courage and fight to defeat the cancer is a true testament to his character. He simply would not permit the cancer to define his life and legacy. Mike was well respected by the staff, teammates, club members, and friends. He sets the example of what each PARMA Captain should strive to be. Heaven gained an angel today. Mike will be deeply missed but never forgotten."

The club will honor Mike by having a moment of silence at the next scheduled home game for all teams, for the rest of the season coaches and players will wear arm bands with Mike's initials and his uniform number (6) embroidered, setting up a scholarship fund in his name, and retiring his uniform number.

The U.S. PARMA Soccer Club and LUSO Soccer Academy have successfully negotiated a partnership to promote soccer in central and north Jersey. LUSO Soccer Academy owns a PDL franchise here in NJ. The top level of soccer, of course, in the United States is the MLS (Major League Soccer). Beneath the MLS is the USL (United Soccer Leagues). The USL governs the USL Pro League (sometimes called the A League), the PDL (Premier Development League), the MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) and the W-League (Women's Pro-Am Soccer) as well as the Super 20 and Super Y Leagues. PDL players, therefore, are only two steps away from the MLS. Just weeks ago 7 PDL alumni suited up for the US Men's National Team 2-1 loss against Honduras. In the recent MLS Superdraft, 26 PDL alumni were selected by MLS teams including 7 of the Top 10 draft picks! Another 42 PDL players were taken in the Supplemental Draft. NJ LUSO-PARMA (new team name) will be one of only four PDL teams based in NJ playing in the Mid Atlantic Division of the nationwide league.

Playing as the NJ Rangers FC since 2010, the team compiled an 8-5-3 record last year finishing 4th in the 10 team division. Head Coach Carlos Rasoilo hopes to build on that success in 2013. Luso Soccer Academy, Inc. also has affiliation with S.C. Beira-Mar, a Premier Sagres League team from Aveiro Portugal, to showcase soccer talent from the PDL Team. In July 2011, coaching staff arranged a tryout session for PDL's Dominic Reinold, Rookie of the Year Runner-up in 2010 season. Because of this tryout, Reinhold had the opportunity to demonstrate his soccer abilities and signed a professional contract for two years with S.C. Beira-Mar. S.C. Beira-Mar will work in conjunction with Luso Soccer Academy to arrange trials for the elite player that shows the potential to play at a professional level. "They have shown interest in using our group as an avenue to bring young talent to their club." Coach Rasoilo, who played in the youth ranks of S.C. Beira Mar before coming to United States, maintains a good relationship with the professional club and was happy that he was able to help Reinhold in obtaining a try-out. NJ LUSO Rangers head coach Carlos Rasoilo, a well known youth soccer coach for his many accomplishments at the youth level said, "I am extremely excited to form this partnership with U.S. PARMA. Both our organization believe in the quest to deliver quality soccer to youth. U.S. PARMA is a well established youth club with great leadership and talented staff. This partnership will be beneficial to both organizations. NJ LUSO Rangers coach goes on to say; "The merger creates a large based club that will immediately show prominence in this area. Combining our resources will allow us to deliver increased opportunities to the central/northern New Jersey region.

U.S. PARMA has had a successful history of promoting players to the D1, D2, and D3 levels of college soccer as well as the professional ranks. The club also has contacts with professional clubs in Germany as well as at Inter Milan, Atalanta, Torino and other clubs in Italy. The partnership with LUSO Soccer Academy will bring added exposure to players who dream of one day signing a professional contract. U.S. PARMA President Phillip Iuliano said, "The meetings went very well with the representatives from LUSO. Their philosophy on soccer, coincides with U.S. PARMA. Having a team represented at the USL/PDL level adds value to the development system and overall program. Both parties truly benefit. Our youth players will have opportunities and exposure to the USL/PDL level and LUSO has a direct and immediate feeder program of youth players to select from."

U.S. PARMA and LUSO Soccer Academy will immediately begin to share resources to build the PDL team's roster and to market the team. The two sides will also begin developing a plan to set up a Super Y Youth program for the summer of 2014.

The New Jersey Girls Soccer Coaches Association (NJGSCA) conducted their annual dinner celebration in December to honor the girls that were selected to the All-State Team.

Six U.S. PARMA girls from three teams were selected and we congratulate all of them!

• Emily Greer - Edison
• Christine Miklas-Scotch Plains - Fanwood
• Leah Salituro-Scotch Plains - Fanwood

• Carlee Gonzalez - South Plainfield
• Thalia Santacruz - Rahway

• Melissa Dunn - Oak Knoll

See complete list here: njgsca.org

AWARDS & HONORS

U18 Girls Coraggio

• All-State Group 4, 3rd Team- Christine Miklas-Scotch Plains
• All-Union County 1st Team- Christine Miklas-Scotch Plains
• All-Union County 1st Team- Leah Salituro-Scotch Plains
• All-West NJ 3rd Team- Paige Dillard-Hunterdon Central
• All-Skylands Conference 2nd Team-Paige Dillard-Hunterdon Central
• All-Shore Conference 2nd Team- Jess DePinho
• Coaches' All Division team (Shore Conference Central A division)- Jess DePinho
• Union County Soccer Coaches Association Honorable Mention-Stephanie Budrock-Johnson

• All-State Group 4 3rd Team- Barbara Paiva- Kearny
• All-Hudson County 1st Team- Barbara Paiva- Kearny
• All-Union County 3rd Team-ThaliaSantacruz-Rahway
• All-Middlesex County 2nd Team- Carlee Gonzalez- South Plainfield
• Home News Tribune All-Area 2nd Team- Carlee Gonzalez-South Plainfield
• Home News Tribune All-Area 2nd Team-Erin Shea-JP Stevens
• Union County Soccer Coaches Association Honorable Mention- Kate Lowe- Union Catholic

• All-State Non-Public B, 3rd Team -Melissa Dunn-Oak Knoll
• All-Union County 2nd Team- Melissa Dunn-Oak Knoll
• Home News Tribune All-Area Honorable Mention - Neema Liverpool-WardlawHartridge
• GMC All-Division- Neema Liverpool-WardlawHartridge
• Prep B Honorable Mention- Neema Liverpool-WardlawHartridge

• All Valley Conference Selection-Angela Arpino-Dayton

CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ali Welch of the Coraggio team won the Non Public A South Jersey State Sectional title as well as the Non Public A Group Championship for Pingry. Barbara Paiva and her Kearny team won the Hudson County Championship with Barbara scoring all 4 goals in a 4-0 Finals win over Bayonne. Scotch Plains and Westfield were co-champs in the Union County Tournament with many PARMA girls represented including: Kelsey Meisch, Christine Miklas, Leah Salituro of the Coraggio and Ini Ross of the Liberta for Scotch Plains. Erica Davis of the Coraggio, Katie Eliades of the Liberta and Sara McCutcheon of the Vittoria played for Westfield. Goalkeeper Paige Dillard, Sarah London and Amanda Powell, all Coraggio girls from Hunterdon Central also won the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex County Tournament

JV & Freshman News
Zoe Graves of the Vittoria and the Millburn JV received her team's Defensive MVP Award. Westfield and Scotch Plains faced off in the JV Union County Finals with 6 Vittoria players in action. Carlie Mayer, Meghan Summers, Kelly Morrison, Marisa Lombardi of Westfield squeezed out a 1-0 win over Rachel Freeman and Caitlin Mahoney from Scotch Plains. Reed Arnold of the Leoni received the "Spirit of the Warrior" award for his JV team at Watchung Hills. Evan Wong of the Forza received the Most Improvement Award for the JP Stevens High School Freshman team.

Congratulations to the Spirito Team as they concluded their youth career at the top of their game. Team was established in 2008 at the age of 15. With a solid work ethic dedicated to the commitment on development, in a 4-5 year progression, the team finished:
Ranked #1 in New Jersey Ranked #2 in Region 1 Ranked #12 in the Nation.
The team now moves into the next stage in the upcoming year - Adult Amateur Development (20/23).

On Friday, December 14, 2012 the club hosted it's annual holiday party. 350 members attended the party. The evening featured a dinner buffet, music, and dancing. Luigi Trentacoste and Joe Manso were honored for their induction into the NJSA Hall of Fame. Visit the photo gallery page for more photos of the event.