By Jessica Fox
We just might be a basketball state with a soccer “problem.”
In recognition of the latter sport’s prominent rise in recent years – not only in Carmel and central Indiana, but also across the state – CarmelFest 2014 officials have named Indy Eleven players as grand marshals of this year’s Fourth of July parade.
The Indy Eleven organization, owned by Carmel resident Ersal Ozdemir, is in the midst of its first season in the professional North American Soccer League, and while the team has recorded 4 draws and 5 losses so far, it has sold out every home game and has a sizeable following.
“It’s been unbelievable. They’ve come out in droves. For such a new team to already get that amount of fans … it’s unexpected,” said Eleven defender Chris Estridge, a Brownsburg native who joined the team during the preseason and now is a Carmel resident.
The team has received support and recognition from the city as well as traveling fans, and now CarmelFest.
“I always knew that soccer had a strong support statewide,” said Coach Juergen Sommer, also a Carmel resident. Sommer was a former U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper and has coached for Indiana University. In 2005, he was inducted into the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame.
Goalkeeper Nathan Sprenkel first developed his love of soccer around the age of 3 or 4 when playing for a local league in Zionsville. He stuck with it through college and now is a part of the team.
“It’s my best experience so far. To play and represent my own city is unique,” Sprenkel said.
The team plans to continue to build its organization from the ground up, focusing on team building and continuing to look for high-quality players.
In the future the team wants to build a training facility and stadium, and possibly start a women’s team, too.
Ozdemir said the Indy Eleven look forward to providing the city and state with great experiences for years to come.
“We are very happy and thankful for Indiana to accept the world’s game,” Ozdemir said.
The team also is looking forward to participating in the CarmelFest parade.
Even Jamaican-born midfielder Don Smart, who has played soccer in all levels in the United States, think it’s a big deal.
“It’s incredible,” he said. “It’s really big for the city and the team.”
