McMurry freshman soccer player Bobby Westbrook was selected by the United States Adult Soccer Association to try out for the men’s U-23 Amateur National Team in July. Westbrook scored one goal in his freshman campaign in 2007 with McMurry, however, head coach Tim Grove said that he thinks that Westbrook has only begun to scratch the surface of his potential.

“Bobby was a very raw player when he came in last year, but had an unparalleled work ethic and was very coachable,” said Grove. “He is twice the player he was a year ago and will continue to improve due to these qualities and willingness to learn."

Westbrook will fly to San Bernadino, Calif. the first week of July to compete to make a team that has boasted former U.S. World Cup stars Brian McBride and Clint Mathis.

The USASA Elite Players Program was formerly known as the Select Teams Program and works to identify players that exhibit skillful qualities with the intent of becoming a part of the USASA National Select Team Player Pool.

The USASA’s web site (http://www.usasa.com) describes the program as follows:

The United States Adult Soccer Association’s (USASA) Elite Player Program, originally known as the Select Teams Program, identifies players that exhibit skillful qualities with the intent of becoming a part of the USASA National Select Team player pool. Once selected, the player will be showcased in competitions against professional and international teams. The exposure that our elite players may gain by competing against those professional and international teams can result in professional opportunities for those players. In addition to identifying our elite players, the program provides our coaches the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in highly competitive game situations.

The goal of the USASA Elite Player Program is to form the USASA Men and Women’s National Select Teams. The National Select Teams will represent the USASA in competition with other professional and international teams. Through these competitive games identification and selection of our elite players into the professional ranks is the ultimate challenge for each player, as well as providing the USASA an identity through this Elite Player Program.

“Being able to train at San Bernadino is an opportunity that only a handful of players will ever be able to experience,” said Grove. “I am ecstatic for Bobby and know he will represent the university well.”

Westbrook is expected to return to McMurry in the fall for his sophomore season in 2008.