BALTIMORE BAYS ACADEMY MANI WALCOTT SIGNS WITH HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

Baltimore Bays Academy player Mani Walcott commits to Hofstra University and will suit up for the Pride in their 2014 Fall season.

Walcott a standout Central Midfielder for the Baltimore Bays U.S. Development Academy since 2012 and an honor student has committed to Hofstra University and will continue his playing career for division I Hofstra University Pride. Walcott through hard work was rewarded with a full scholarship to play for the pride.

Walcott says “I committed to Hofstra University because of the school's strong civil engineering program, the soccer team's style of play, and the experience of the coaching staff.”

“The Baltimore Bays Chelsea program prepared me mentally, as well as physically, for the speed and physicality of college soccer, as well as giving me leadership skills. The program has also contributed greatly to my tactical understanding of the game. The most important contribution, in my opinion, was giving me an opportunity to showcase my attributes to college coaches.”

“Playing in the Development Academy helped move my game to the next level by allowing me to play with and against the top players from my age level. Training four times per week was very helpful in developing my game too, as it obviously gave me more time to train, and also accurately simulated the college soccer training, intensity, and schedule. Having a game each weekend gave me a chance to test my skills against challenging opposition in a competitive environment.”

“I would recommend the Development Academy to younger players with the ability to reach the next level, as the system specializes in encouraging competitive soccer players to reach their potential.”

Baltimore Bays Academy Director Frank Olszewski adds “We are pleased for Mani and his family that he has been awarded a full scholarship at Hofstra. He has worked very hard to be given this opportunity and is an example of perseverance. Hofstra is a fantastic educational institution and the Men's Soccer program is always a contender for CAA honors and NCAA qualification. Coach Richard Nuttall and his staff do a wonderful job of providing a rewarding student-athlete experience for their players."