WASHINGTON, D.C. - Six area youths earned the chance on Saturday to represent D.C. United at the national Sierra Mist Dribble Pass & Score championship, to be held in November as a part of MLS Cup 2004 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The six youngsters - representing three age groups for each gender - earned the highest scores among 24 total competitors in the three-skill competition held prior to United's match against the New England Revolution on Saturday.
Kurt Ellis, 9, of Annandale, Va., and Victoria Narro, 9, of Woodbridge, Va., were the top scorers in the 8-9 year old age bracket, with scores of 247.5 and 162.5 respectively, out of a possible 360 points. Reed Iandolo, 10, of Vienna, Va., and Mia Jimenez, 10, of Alexandria, Va., earned scores of 287.5 and 252.5 respectively to take the honors in the 10-11 year old age bracket, while Andrew Meruvia, 13, of Woodbridge, Va., and Payten Pearson, 12, also of Woodbridge, captured the title for the 12-14 year old age bracket with scores of 230 and 270 respectively.
The six champions are the best of more than 500 youth who have competed in Dribble, Pass & Score competitions throughout the D.C. area during the 2004 MLS season. More than 26,000 kids have taken part in the Dribble, Pass & Score program nationwide, showing their skills in the hopes of representing their team at MLS Cup 2004.
Team competitions will be held in all 10 MLS cities, with the top four scorers in each age bracket qualifying for the National Finals to be held in November at MLS Cup 2004. The Sierra Mist MLS Dribble, Pass & Score program is a three-skill competition that includes dribbling through a slalom-style course for speed, passing to zones for accuracy and shooting at a regulation size goal divided into six target areas for accuracy. The competition is divided into six age divisions, three each for boys and girls.
