Italy: Dream Team Bowl – Team Italy U19 set to face USA AFW Elite Team

AFI | American Football | 03/26/2019

In a tune-up game for the IFAF U19 European Championships this summer, Team Italy will take on the USA AFW Elite Team this Saturday, March 30 in the 5th annual Dream Team Bowl at the Vigorelli Velodrom in Milan, Italy.

The Italian national team, aka Team Blue, is currently ranked sixth among all European nations.

Eugenio Meini, the General Manager of the Italian National U19 team:

“We are in the run-up to the U19 European Championship in Bologna in July, so this is a very important game for us. The new coaching staff has been working really hard over the past few months and I’m confident that the team will do well thanks to the work coordinated by our HC Luca Lorandi. We at FIDAF have deployed all our organizational resources and efforts to enable the coaching staff to prepare the team as well as possible for the European Championship. The boys are training hard and extremely enthusiastic. This gives us high hopes.”

The USA AFW Elite Team is composed of players from 12 different states and 24 different high schools. They arrived in Italy on Sunday, March 24, and set off on a fantastic tour of our country before heading back to Milan for the game. They are staying in Rome, Tuscany and then Como, and will also visit the Cinque Terre, Lugano, and Milan.

Ivan Molteni, the Director of Dream Team Sports Tours, is also very pleased:

“For the fifth year running Dream Team Sports Tours has worked with its American partners and FIDAF and successfully organized another tour for young American football players which culminates with a unifying experience when they run out against the Italian National U19 team. We firmly believe that these initiatives are, and will continue to be, a fantastic way to promote American football in Italy, and also benefit the world of sport in general. Dream Team Sports Tours is committed to continuing along this path and hopes that everyone at the event enjoys an exciting day of American football in one of the finest stadiums in Europe.”

Look for a full preview and livestream this Saturday, March 24.

The American squad defeated Italy two years ago, 28-7. Watch a replay of the game here.

The kick-off is at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, and admission to the stadium is free. The event will be streamed live on FIDAF TV, the federation’s YouTube channel.

USA AFW Elite Team Roster

#	First	Last	Def	Off	Ht	Wt	High School	Hometown, ST
2	Josh	Evans	LB	TE	6’0	205	IMG Academy	Bradenton, FL
2	Ryan	Sanborn	K/P/S	QB	6’2	205	Francis Parker	San Diego, CA
3	Franshun	Jordan	OLB	RB	5’11	175	Willowbrook	Villa Park, IL
4	Jonathan	Gordon	CB	WR	6’2	175	Francis Parker	San Diego, CA
6	Gabriel	Thomas	LB	RB	5’10	200	The Bishops School	San Diego, CA
7	Elliot	Avidane	S	QB	6’1	210	Schreiber Senior	Port Washington, NY
7	Ryan	Horne	OLB	WR	6’	165	Francis Parker	Poway, CA
8	Oakley	Roessler	SS	RB	5’10	185	McDonald County	Pineville, MO
9	Jordan	Berry	LB	RB	5’10	210	The Haverford School	Haverford, PA
10	Eli	Samuelson	FS	QB	6’3	185	Cedar Mountain	Comfrey, MN
14	Bobby	Inserra	CB	SL	5’9	160	Maine South	Park Ridge, IL
14	Anthony	Palmere	DE	WR	6’5	225	John Carroll	Churchville, MD
15	Michael	Boland	CB	WR	6’1	175	Huntley	Huntley, IL
15	Byron	Paige Jr	CB	SL	5’7	165	Colonial	Orlando, FL
21	Noah	Klubnik	SS	SL	5’7	155	Orange	Seven Hills, OH
29	Josh	Schumann	SS	WR	5’10	185	Carmel	Carmel, IN
30	Bryson	Clark	ILB	FB	6’1	220	Juniata	Mifflintown, PA
31	Dominic	Capecci	DE	TE	6’	245	Sacred Heart-Griffin	Springfield, IL
31	Alex	McAvoy	DT	FB	6’1	215	Geneseo	Geneseo, IL
32	Zachary	Golden	CB	SL	6’	205	Hampshire	Hampshire, IL
45	Ross	Valenti	ILB	TE	6’3	227	Mount Carmel	Chicago, IL
46	Caleb	Evans	DL	HB	6’0	227	IMG Academy	Bradenton, FL
50	Ben	Serdy	ILB	OG	5’10	210	The Bishops School	San Diego, CA
53	Wesley	Cline	LB	OG	5’10	195	Littleton	Littleton, MA
55	Shelton	Smith	LB	OT	6’	220	Orange	Woodmere, OH
59	Matt	Knudtson	DT	OT	6’1”	270	Willowbrook	Villa Park, IL
59	Alexandre	Pavlov		OL	6’4	230	Maine South	Park Ridge, IL
64	Andrew	Graves		OL	6’2	265	Notre Dame	Sun Valley, CA
66	Daniel	Fitzmorris	DT	OL	6’3	295	Notre Dame	Los Angeles, CA
71	Anthony	Glancey	DT	OG	6’2	290	Alleman Catholic	East Moline, IL
74	Babatunde	Motoni	DT	OL	6’	235	Orange	Woodmere, OH
84	Jonathan	Rice	DE	TE	6’3	205	Bracken County	Augusta, KY
88	Joshua	Sletta	LB	RB	5’9	180	Madelia HS	Madelia, MN