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The TeamRank National Championship is a unique rankings setup that only includes team performance from the current season. It begins with events in August and ends with final events in July, at which point a new competition begins and the slate is again wiped clean. Each ranking is only for that August to July season.

The idea of playing for something outside of oneself is the philosophy that JB Marine has adopted and helped it to become the top team in the Heartland region as well as the U16 Girls TeamRank.

“Even though the girls come from all around the St. Louis area, they have a lot of chemistry,” Head Coach Jim Wipke said. “A lot of their success is because of our talent, but the bulk of it is because we work incredibly hard for each other.”

Wipke said that the team adapts very well to opponents’ style of play. The leadership that exists within the squad allows JB Marine to adjust on the fly effectively, without any instructions from the sidelines.

“I sometimes get credit for the job they are doing on the field,” he emphasizes.

That leadership is passed on by teams captains, including: Haley Kavanaugh, Melanie Donaldson, Kayla Welch, Alexis Boschert, and Jade Klump.

“I’d like it to be known is that this team will outwork you. The girls have a blue-collar ethic and mentality,” Wipke said. “Win or lose, we will let the other team know they were in a battle.”

Aside from the work rate this team has, there is a bond that transcends the team itself, and trickles down to the younger age groups.

“We coach three team here, the U12, U14, and U16,” Wipke explained. “And they all train together. We teach the girls to be greater than oneself; to give to others and to try to make the people around them greater.”

With the mentality in place, the U16 JB Marine squad has taken a mentor role to the U14s, who in turn have provided the same role to the U12s. It doesn’t just provide a bond that continues through the progression of the girls’ career, but also provides a platform for the players to improve, especially when younger players get called up to the older team.

“The girls work very hard to make the experience of the younger players great and that makes them better,” Wipke said. “Also, when a player competes with someone older that she respects, she’ll want to do her best.”

It’s a win-win situation for all.

Other teams leading their current age group tables are the U13 St. Louis Scott Gallagher, U14 JB Marine, U15 KCFC Alliance, U17 St Louis Scott Gallagher Metro, and U18 KCFC Alliance.

On the boys’ side, leading the pack are U14 Red River United, U15 Omaha Football Club, U16 Dakota United, U17 Lou Fusz SC, and U18 NFC Soccer.

See Heartland TeamRank Rankings - Boys | Girls