Flathead's Premier League soccer team holding tryouts

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

Tryouts for the most competitive men's soccer league in the state this summer are coming up. The Flathead Rapids will be having open competitions for a roster spot for any over-18 male on April 1 and 3 at 6 p.m. at Stebbins Field in Kalispell.

The Rapids compete in the Montana Premier League, a collegiate-level soccer league in its third year that features eight teams from around the state. The Rapids were last year's league champions, and team captain O'Brien Byrd said he is looking for players to help his team compete for the title again this year.

"This is an awesome opportunity for home-town guys to rip it up and win state again," he said.

Byrd said the overall concept is to provide a level of soccer equal to the collegiate level for college players who are home for the summer break, high school seniors who want more experience before playing at the next level, or ex-college players looking for some of their old glory.

"It's a great mix of youth, talent and experience," he said. "It's very competitive. There aren't a lot of high-level sports for guys out there who aren't in college anymore. This is at a whole other level from softball or flag football. This is a highly competitive league."

Byrd said the league is perfect for guys who are "just sitting on their thumbs" for the summer while waiting to go play college soccer. Byrd himself is an ex-college soccer player.

"The whole roster is local guys," he said. "About one-third of the team is Whitefish guys, but we're hoping to get guys from Columbia Falls and Bigfork as well."

The league, which runs from April 6 to the end of June, is set up so each team plays two 90-minute games every other Sunday. Teams from Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman, Missoula and Helena will try to unseat the Rapids as state champion this year. Whitefish will host the championship tournament in June.

"This is a great chance for people to come out and watch the highest-level soccer in the state," Byrd said. "We use only the highest-rated officials, and we are sponsored by Rockstar Energy drinks this year."

For more information and directions to the tryouts, visit online at www.flatheadrapids.com.