Chalk up another win for the Development Academy in the ongoing battle between high school and elite club soccer. 

Since the DA announced in 2012 it was creating exclusivity by disallowing its players from playing both high school and the DA without a waiver (which are granted but are rare), players split between both worlds have arduously struggled over the decision. Ultimately, it’s largely emptied high school of its best players and ported them to the Development Academy, which has watched its ranks swell over the past seven years. 

Brock Tober knows the struggle as well as anyone. The reigning conference player of the year in his league, Tober played for his high school squad at Glenwood in the Springfield, Illinois area for three years before breaking for the Development Academy this fall. He started playing for the St. Louis Scott Gallagher U18 side on Sept. 13, and in his first game he scored a goal in a 1-1 draw against Chicago Magic.

Tober likely would’ve been a high-ranking recruit had he spent more time in the academy. As is, he’s making up for lost time. 

“Some of my best friends are on (Glenwood’s team),” Tober told The State Journal-Register. “I grew up playing with those guys. I miss playing against all my friends and having the coaches around, but for me to succeed and play at the next level — at the highest level I can — it was just a choice I had to make.”

So it goes for elite soccer players in America. Tober now routinely makes the 160-mile round trip from Chatham to the St. Louis area, where he hopes to be scouted and recruited by a high-ranking Division I program. According to the Journal-Register, Tober scored a school-record 31 goals and had 14 assists for Glenwood last year, and he says he has scholarships in hand already.

In that sense, the gamble is already paying its debt. But it’s hard to miss the wistful glance Tober and his former high school brethren occasionally shoot to their old high school digs while they drive off to club practice. As long as the system rewards the DA exclusively and punishes high school, that won’t change any time soon, either.

Bulgari joins the 800 club 

On Sept. 16, New Jersey powerhouse Pingry beat Watchung Hills 1-0 on a goal from Jameson Cook. The game was not notable in itself beyond Pingry’s steady effort at the game and Cook’s well-taken goal. Except for one thing.

The win was Pingry coach Miller Bulgari’s 800th, putting him in a class with only one other coach in American high school history. St. Louis’ Terry Michler is the only other coach in U.S. history to crack the 800 wins barrier, and Bulgari joined him last week. That moved his record to 800-100-62 over 56 seasons at Pingry, and it’s unlikely anyone will pass him for No. 2 on the all-time list. There are only four other coaches even above 700 wins. Three of those are active, and only one among those is above 750. Which means Bulgari is the only coach who’ll crack 800 this year. 

In an interview with NJ.com, Cook, the player who gave Bulgari his historic win, was a typically demure 18-year-old. Though he has his eyes focused on hardware this season, it’s likely a moment he won’t forget.

"It feels great. This is a great day for the school, for coach, for the soccer program," senior captain Jameson Cook said. "But now we can focus on the rest of the season. We can focus on winning a conference, which we got one step closer to today. And focus on winning counties and a state championship."

An upset out west 

Jesuit (Carmichael, California) is unquestionably the most successful program on the West Coast over the past decade. Indeed, they were ranked No. 5 in the nation in our last FAB 50 ranking until the unthinkable happened - Jesuit lost. And lost badly.

Earlier this year, a team was in a celebratory mood just for tying Jesuit, which gives you an idea as to how big an accomplishment a victory against this juggernaut’s come to be. Davis didn’t bow from the pressure and registered a seismic 3-1 victory over Jesuit last week. That marked just the third time since 2008 Jesuit had lost to an in-state team, and two of those losses have now been to bitter rival Davis.

Of course, it should be noted that Jesuit was down eight starters for the match. Longtime Jesuit coach Paul Rose, who has more than 700 career wins at the school, suspended six players for behavioral issues and lost two others to red cards in the previous match, which Jesuit still managed to draw. If Rose was trying to send a message, this was a heck of a way to do it. 

As a result, the FAB 50 rankings reflect the change. Jesuit fell to No. 23 this week - an 18-spot drop - while Davis careened up the board to No. 20 behind its 6-1-0 record. 

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