Clayton girls and boys soccer coach Brendan Taylor watched with pride as the Greyhounds student body gleefully celebrated the girls soccer team after they scored the overtime, game-winning goal to capture the Class 2 state championship in 2023.
For Taylor, the scene encapsulated the joy of playing for one’s high school team and showcased the pride that high school athletics can bring to a community.
While watching the celebration, Taylor also thought of the Clayton High students who chose an alternative soccer path – deciding to play club soccer year-round instead of joining the Greyhounds’ high school team that season.
“We had five people not come out (for the team) that we obviously wanted to come out, but they chose not to,” Taylor said after the title game. “I’m not mad at them for what they chose, but I just feel bad that they’re missing out.”
Playing club soccer year-round and foregoing the experience of playing for one’s high school team has become a trend in recent years. One argument in support of the idea is that the quality of opponents will be superior when playing in club events.
To help combat this argument and others, the STL High School Champions League was formed.
The inaugural STL High School Champions League boys soccer tournament kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 10 when Eureka travels to Chaminade. In all, 16 high-quality teams from the St. Louis metro area will compete in four separate pools, with the winner of each pool advancing to the semifinals on Oct. 16. A girls soccer Champions League tournament will be held this spring.
“The attractive thing about it is that you’re getting some of the best soccer players in the area to compete against each other, and the competitors in all of us love playing against the best,” Taylor said.
The architect of the movement is James Harte, who spearheads a Champions League tournament each year in Tampa, Florida. According to Harte, the five components of the Champions League are: (1) no entry fee (2) merit-based (3) metro area teams compete (4) coach-run (5) empowerment of student-athletes.
“You’re able to find out who has the best team, regardless of size,” Harte said.
The championship match for the inaugural boys soccer St. Louis High School Champions League is scheduled for Oct. 19 at Creve Coeur Soccer Park. A trophy will be presented to the winning team and the Virtuoso Award awarded to the most skilled player of the match by Tim McEvoy of Select Sport America.
The Clayton boys soccer team finished 16-7 last season and earned a spot in Pool C alongside Kirkwood, St. Dominic and SLUH. The Greyhounds (3-1) open Champions League play at 6:30 p.m. Monday, September 16 at St. Dominic (4-0).
“It’s exciting to be a part of this and we’re just aiming to live up to the billing and give the best that we are. I’m fully confident that if we do that, people are going to enjoy what they see,” Taylor said.
And Taylor hopes the birth of the St. Louis High School Champions League will bolster the value of high school soccer for players and their parents and will allow more student-athletes to enjoy special memories with their childhood friends.
“When I’m making the case to the whole Clayton community that (high school soccer) is a worthwhile experience, being included in the Champions League makes the best players want to be a part of it,” Taylor said.
He added, “It’s sliced a little differently. You’re erasing class (designations). It’s pure competition and that’s when soccer is at its best.”
For a schedule of Champions League games and to order tickets go to https://laduesoccer.wixsite.com/stl-champions-league
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
| De Smet | Chaminade | Clayton | CBC |
| Fort Zumwalt South | Eureka | Kirkwood | Fort Zumwalt East |
| Oakville | Liberty | St. Dominic | Lindbergh |
| Summit | Vianney | SLUH | Westminster |