CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois incoming football wide receiver Erik Lora will be one of 45 players representing his country later this week as a member of Team USA as they compete in the IFAF Junior World Championships.
Lora played at Columbus High School in Miami, Fla., earning first team All-Dade County 6A-4A as CHS posted a 10-1 record and ranked 23rd in the state. He made 29 catches for 649 yards and seven touchdowns to rank second in Dade County in receiving yards. He also served as a punt returner with 11 returns for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, selected 45 graduating high school seniors soon to enter one of 33 college football programs have been selected to play on America's first national team in the sport comprised of players aged 19 and under.
The squad will compete in the eight-nation, four-continent 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, from June 27-July 5. National football teams from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden have qualified to join the United States to pursue the sport's first world championship on the international junior level (19 and under).
USA Football's Junior National Team is led by Chuck Kyle, head coach of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School, who has led his Wildcats to 10 of Ohio's past 21 large-school state titles, including two USA TODAY "national championships."
"Much like the country we love and represent, this football team is composed of immense talent and strong character from small towns, big cities, and places in between," said Kyle, whose team is assembled of players entering one of 13 college conferences, with the Big 10 having the most players on Team USA with nine. "This collection of young men - proud Americans - will become a team during our 13 days together before facing France on June 27.
"We realize - coaches and players alike - that we're playing for something greater than ourselves. It is aprivilege to representthe United States in this historic tournament, further propelling football's international strength."
All eight national teams will live and practice at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, throughout the tournament (June 27-July 5).
http://www.usafootball.com/app/webroot/teamusa/