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Dalton Red Wolves SC has the best high school soccer player in the nation on the roster.

Omar Hernandez, a recent graduate of Dalton High School, was named the 2018-2019 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year Tuesday.

Hernandez became eligible for the award after he won the Gatorade Georgia Boys Soccer Player of the Year last Friday, marking the second year in a row he has received Gatorade’s state recognition award.

Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes the nation’s most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. That’s what makes this award the most prestigious honor in High School sports.

He joins the likes of Peyton Manning, Abby Wambach, Derek Jeter, Lebron James and more.

“It’s surreal and truly an honor seeing my name next to that title,” Hernandez said. “I never would have thought that I could find myself classified in that type of category.”

With the honor, Hernandez is now entered for the chance to win Gatorade’s National Athlete of the Year, awarded to one male and female at a banquet at the beginning of July in Los Angeles. Hernandez is invited to travel to California for the ceremony where he and the 11 other athletes will walk the red carpet and attend the ESPYs, ESPN’s national event honoring the top individuals and teams in sports for their athletic achievements.

Hernandez finished his high school career with 78 goals and 64 assists—both records at Dalton High.

On top of his Gatorade Player of the Year honors, Hernandez was named First-Team All-American by USA Today, 2x All-State for the State of Georgia, Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Co-player of the Year and took home the Best of Preps Steve George Boys Soccer Award.

The Dalton, Georgia native is competing for the Dalton Red Wolves this summer before continuing his academic and athletic career at Wake Forest University in the fall.

“I chose the Red Wolves Organization because they gave me the opportunity to develop and improve my game,” Hernandez said. “Also because the team is based in my hometown, and it’s amazing to be able to play where I have grown up. I’m excited to be competing against guys who have had college careers and learn from their experiences.”

Dalton Red Wolves head coach Drew Courtney is excited for Hernandez and what he brings to the team both on and off the field. 

“What an honor it is for Omar to receive Gatorade National Player of the Year,” Courtney said. “It is well-deserved and well-earned and I couldn’t be happier for him. It’s not always the case that a prestigious award like this goes to someone who is both a great athlete and a quality human being. Omar is both and is the perfect recipient for this honor. I really look forward to watching him grow with our group.”

For more information on Gatorade Player of the Year, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com. 

Hernandez and the Red Wolves will be back in action Friday, June 14 as the team travels to South Carolina to face Discoveries SC. 

Dalton Red Wolves SC (1-1-1) are back home to face Discoveries SC (1-3-1) at Christian Heritage School on Friday, June 7. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are $5 and will be available at the gate.

The match marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. The Red Wolves are coming off of a 1-1 draw with South Georgia Tormenta FC. Discoveries fell to SC United Bantams 0-1. 

Following tonight’s match, the team will host Charlotte Eagles on Sunday, June 9. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Christian Heritage School. 

DETAILS

• Gates open at 6:00 p.m. // Kickoff at 7:00 p.m.
• $5 tickets // cash and card accepted

HOW TO FOLLOW

• Live stats: USL League Two Match Center
• Follow @daltonredwolves on Twitter for in-game updates // #DALvDIS

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC has signed forward Abdoulaye “YaYa” Cisse to its USL League One team, pending league and federation approval.

Cisse is the first player in club history to join Chattanooga Red Wolves SC through the club’s League Two affiliate team, Dalton Red Wolves SC.

According to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC President and General Manager Sean McDaniel, Cisse represents the importance of a true “path2pro” avenue for young, hungry players.

“From the moment he arrived, YaYa has proven that he is eager to play and contribute to the success of our first team,” said McDaniel. “This is a significant step for our club and perfectly represents the value of a clear path to professional play. This has been our goal all along, and it’s only the beginning.”

Cisse spent two seasons of his collegiate career at Eastern Florida State College, helping his team to the 2015 NJCAA national semifinal. He netted nine goals and added nine assists in his 35 games at EFSC. In 2017, he transferred to Fort Hays State University where he would finish out college play. There, he garnered two-time All-Conference First Team and a two-time All-MIAA First Team honors.

Cisse played club soccer for both FC Dallas Youth and Pride FC.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to become a professional athlete, and my family and I are grateful to the Red Wolves organization and staff for giving me the opportunity to make that dream come true,” said Cisse. “I can’t wait to get started.”

According to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Head Coach and Technical Director Tim Hankinson, Cisse adds pace and raw talent to the roster.

“YaYa came in strong and ready to compete,” said Hankinson. “He has the speed, technical abilities and athleticism we’ve been looking for. If the way he has trained throughout this first week is any indication, he’s going to make a solid addition to the team.”

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC travels to Tucson, Arizona to face FC Tucson, a club operated by USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC, on Saturday, May 18. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. EST and available on ESPN+. The team will return home the following weekend to host Greenville Triumph SC at David Stanton Field. The match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. EST.

For tickets and more information on Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, visit www.chattredwolves.com or follow the team on social media: @ChattRedWolves on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Dalton Red Wolves SC opens the team’s inaugural USL League Two season against Peachtree City MOBA at Christian Heritage School on Saturday, May 18. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are $5 and will be available at the gate.

Dalton competes in the league’s Deep South Division, which currently features five additional clubs.  

This season, Dalton will play a 14-match schedule against their respective divisional opponents, seven at home and seven away. The Southern Conference has three divisions. Each division winner, plus the highest-finishing second-place team in the conference, advances to the playoffs in the conference semifinals.

The playoffs occur in late July, with each conference champion advancing to the national semifinals and the winners of those matches advancing to the USL League Two Championship in early August.

Following Saturday’s match, the team will travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face SC United Bantams on Saturday, May 25. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. from Monticello Soccer Center. 

details

• Gates open at 6:00 p.m. // Kickoff at 7:00 p.m.
• $5 tickets // cash and card accepted

How to follow

• Live stats: USL League Two Match Center
• Follow @daltonredwolves on Twitter for in-game updates

DALTON, Ga. (Jan. 28, 2019)—Today, Dalton’s USL League Two team, officially unveiled as Dalton Red Wolves SC, announced Drew Courtney as the first ever head coach for the club’s inaugural season. Having served as head coach for Bryan College Men’s Soccer Program for five seasons, Courtney brings more than 12 years of coaching experience to Dalton, including previous experience in USL League Two.   

“The process of finding a head coach for Dalton was a top priority for us,” said team owner Bob Martino. “Drew has the experience, the vision and a shared understanding of the vitality of the “Path2Pro” philosophy. I have no doubt that under his leadership, we will be able to build and deliver a quality product for our region.”

During his five-year stint with Bryan College, he was a recipient of two top 10 NAIA National Rankings and garnered a 72% win average over his five seasons. In 2015, his team claimed the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship while he was named AAC Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, the program produced 25 First Team AAC All Conference players, one AAC Golden Boot winner, four AAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors and four NAIA All-America Honors. During his five seasons, Courtney coached five players who have signed professional contracts.  

From 2012-2014, Courtney served as the head coach for USL League Two side Mississippi Brilla of the Deep South Division. During his two seasons with Brilla, Courtney coached and mentored ten players who have signed professional contracts.           

“I am really excited to be joining the Red Wolves as the League Two Head Coach,” said Courtney. “Having a clear path for players to reach the professional level is something I dreamed of as a kid in Chattanooga, and now I have the opportunity to help a new generation achieve that. I am very thankful to Bob and Tim for the opportunity to lead this team, and I look forward to our first season in a few short months.”

The team became the seventh club to join USL League Two ahead of the 2019 season and is an affiliate of USL League One Founding Member Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.

Tryouts for the team will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Dalton’s Broaddus-Durkan Complex (310 Smith Industrial Blvd.) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The call back session will be from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Registration fee is $50. To register, visit chattredwolves.com/dalton-tryouts.

The Dalton Red Wolves will begin play in May 2019. Schedule, ticket and additional information will be released in the coming weeks. To stay up-to-date with Dalton Red Wolves SC news, visit chattredwolves.com/Dalton or follow Dalton Red Wolves SC on social media: @DaltonRedwolves on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About USL League Two

A part of United Soccer Leagues, LLC, which also operates USL Championship, the new USL League One and Super Y League, USL League Two offers a summer platform for aspiring professionals across the United States and Canada.

More than 70 percent of all MLS SuperDraft selections since 2010 have USL League Two experience, including a total of 61 alumni chosen in 2019. Among the many players to have competed in USL League Two before making their professional debuts include Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent, Newcastle United FC defender DeAndre Yedlin, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan and Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (December 28, 2019) – Ahead of the 2019 USL League Two season, the league has unveiled Dalton as its latest member. The team becomes the seventh club to join USL League Two and is an affiliate of USL League One Founding Member Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.

Dalton will compete in the Deep South Division, which currently features seven additional clubs. The club has also announced that it will split hosting home matches in 2019 at Chattanooga Christian School’s Stanton Field and a venue in Dalton left to be determined.

“We’re extremely excited to see the continued growth in the greater Dalton/Chattanooga communities,” USL League Two Vice President Joel Nash said. “Bob [Martino] has shown a true willingness to help develop soccer at all levels in the area, and we believe that great things will come from his latest endeavor in USL League Two.”

Owner Bob Martino has helped lead Dalton’s push towards joining League Two in 2019, and has provided a major lift in Tennessee’s soccer landscape with his role in guiding Chattanooga Red Wolves SC to USL League One.  The direct affiliation with the Professional League One team is very beneficial for the Dalton League Two team.

Martino and Chattanooga currently have plans in place for a 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium that is expected to open ahead of the 2020 League One season.

“USL League Two defines the “Path2Pro,’” Martino said. “The transition from youth soccer to a professional career has been a route lacking a clear map and having league two teams connecting top youth on one side and professional soccer on the other provides a much needed conduit.”

According to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Head Coach and Technical Director Tim Hankinson, the addition of the League Two team is vital to the development and long-term success of building out a professional soccer organization.

“Identifying local talent and elevating players to the next level is something important to the overall vision of the Red Wolves Soccer Club,” said Hankinson. “A clear path for a professional playing career will now be a reality in our community.” 

With its introduction ahead of the 2019 League Two season, Dalton joins previously announced Cedar Stars Rush, Discoveries SC, Florida Elite Soccer Academy, Green Bay, Park City and Wake FC.

The club will announce its logo, color scheme and further branding at a later date. Additional information regarding the League Two team to come, including coaching staff, location and player signings. 

To stay up-to-date with Dalton, visit www.chattredwolves.com/dalton.

About USL League Two

A part of United Soccer Leagues, LLC, which also operates USL Championship, the new USL League One and Super Y League, USL League Two offers a summer platform for aspiring professionals across the United States and Canada.

More than 70 percent of all MLS SuperDraft selections since 2010 have USL League Two experience, including a total of 66 alumni chosen in 2018. Among the many players to have competed in USL League Two before making their professional debuts include Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent, Newcastle United FC defender DeAndre Yedlin, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan and Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes.