Former PCYSL player Urban receives statewide recognition

Former PCYSL player Peter Urban (second from left), 14, receives the Indiana Olympic Development Program Spirit Award. He is pictured with (from left) Joy Carter, Hope Van Wagner and John Carter. The Carters are members of the Indiana ODP and Van Wagner also received a spirit award.

Though soccer season has yet to arrive, a local student has already been recognized. Former Putnam County Youth Soccer Association player, Peter Urban, 14, of Fillmore, has been named the male Olympic Development Program Spirit Award winner.

Urban was chosen from ODB participants across the state of Indiana.

The Indiana ODP Spirit Award honors the memory of three Indiana Soccer ODP players whose lives were cut short. Carley Dickard, Allison Lardin, and Chris Akunda were accomplished players who loved the game of soccer.

Dickard, Lardin and Akunda taught lessons about strength, courage and spirit and each left an impression not only on the soccer community, but on all who crossed paths with them.

The ODP Spirit Award is given to a female and a male junior player who embodies these qualities. Urban was selected in memory of Chris Akunda.

In addition to the award, Urban and a friend will receive a full scholarship to attend the Indiana University Men's Soccer Camp this summer.

Since the banquet honoring Urban, he has been selected to the '99 Older Boys State Team Pool of 27 players. He is hoping to make the final 18 players that will become the '99 Older Boys Indiana State Team.

The selection will be this May. If he is selected, this would be the third year that Urban has been able to represent Indiana. This spring he will play with the Zionsville Youth Soccer Association (ZYSA).

He will compete in both the MRL and ICL leagues with the ZYSA '99 Select Team.

More information about Akunda, the namesake for Urban's award, can be found at chrisakunda.com/home.html.

Information about the Indiana ODP can be found at soccerindiana.org/programs/odp.aspx.