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

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

AFW-USA ELITE Coaching Staff

David Inserra

Jim Barnes                                                                   Aaron Call

Tom Domin                                                                 John Morrison

Charlie Bliss                                                                Ed Ralls

Athletic Trainer – Geoff Wright

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