Five boys from Canyon Ridge Middle School were named to the first ever Autin FC U13 Soccer Academy: Ryder Atwood, Nick Abeling, Luke Hawley, Milo Williams and Gavin Wolff. 

“Out of over thousands of boys born in the year 2008, these players were chosen to be a part of a 16 roster team,” said Victoria Abeling, parent of one of the team.

Austin FC Academy, the youth program of MLS expansion club Austin FC, announced its U13, U14 and U15 rosters for the 2020-2021 season in June. Many of the players were selected from top clubs throughout the region.

With the exception of Wolff, the teammates have all been playing together since their early grade school years.

“The boys have been friends since kindergarten, and started playing soccer with Neighborhood Sports in Steiner Ranch around 5/6 but the first team they were on together was when they joined the club soccer team in Steiner, Lonestar (Soccer Club),” Abeling said.

Wolff moved from Atlanta to Austin when his dad, Josh Wolff, was named as head coach to the new Austin FC MLS team. Josh’s oldest son was just named to Atlanta United FC.