KC Pace

KC Pace is a youth soccer organization based in Kansas City, Missouri. The KC Pace has had only two teams: 80/81 KC Pace (1995-1999) and the 87/88 KC Pace (1996-2007). In a time when large consolidated soccer clubs were considered the norm in the United States' premier youth soccer culture, the KC Pace found significant and unprecedented success functioning independently. KC Pace teams were led by the coaching staff of Jefferson Roblee, Lincoln Roblee and Burke Slusher. Many KC Pace alumni play college soccer and in the USL Premier Development League.

Historic Championship (2005)

Since 1935, the first year of the annual event that is now known as the US Youth Soccer National Championships Series, no team from outside of St. Louis had won a Missouri club state championship in an age group that advanced to the regional championships (U13-U19). Seventy years later, 2005, the 87/88 Kansas City Pace (coached by Jefferson Roblee, Lincoln Roblee and Burke Slusher1Photo) defeated Lou Fusz SC-Popovic of St. Louis 3-1 in the U17 boys Missouri State Cup championship match. 2,3Photos

Repeat Champions (2006)

The Kansas City Pace repeated as Missouri State Cup champions in 2006 with a 3-1 victory over Scott Gallagher SC of St. Louis in the U18 boys state championship match. 4Photo 5VIDEO

KC Pace players: 2005-2007

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KC Pace players in the Olympic Development Program (ODP)

Andrew Biggs: 87/88 KC Pace goalkeeper played in U19 ODP Interregional at Home Depot Center in Carson, California with 88 ODP Region II Team in 2005.Four year member of the 88 Missouri ODP State Team.
Brant Bishop: 87/88 KC Pace team captain forward/midfielder was a four year member of the 87 ODP Regional Pool Team. Traveled to Columbus, Ohio in the summer of 2005 with the 87 ODP Regional Pool Team for training with the Columbus Crew (MLS).
Michael Clayton: 87/88 KC Pace midfielder was a member of the 89 ODP Region II Pool Team. Three year member of the 89 Missouri ODP State Team.
Ryan Hennessy: 87/88 KC Pace defender was a member of the 88 ODP Region II Pool Team in 2004 & 2005. Four year member of the 88 Missouri ODP State Team.
Haggai Leboo: 87/88 KC Pace forward was a member of the 87 ODP Region II Pool Team in 2005. Traveled to Columbus, Ohio in the summer of 2005 with the 87 ODP Regional Pool Team for training with the Columbus Crew (MLS).
Manny Tovar: 87/88 KC Pace midfielder was a member of the 88 ODP Region II Pool Team in 2003 & 2004. Four year member of the 88 Missouri ODP State Team.
Justin True: 87/88 KC Pace winger/forward participated with U17 US Youth National Team at the Disney Soccer Showcase in 2004 and played with the 89 ODP Region II Team in Argentina in 2005. Participated in adidas Elite Soccer Program (ESP) in summer of 2006.
J.D. Warman: 87/88 KC Pace forward was a part of the 88 ODP Region II team that traveled to Italy in 2005 and Spain in 2006. Participated in adidas Elite Soccer Program (ESP) in summer of 2006. Three year member of the 88 Missouri ODP State Team.
Brian Wurst: 87/88 KC Pace midfielder was a four year member of the 87 Missouri ODP State Team.

KC Pace players with National Team experience

Justin True: 87/88 KC Pace midfielder played with the USA U16 (89) National Team at the 2004 Thanksgiving ODP Interregional in Houston, Texas.
Justin True: 87/88 KC Pace midfielder played with the USA U17 (89) National Team at the 2004 Disney Soccer Showcase SuperGroup in Orlando, Florida.
J.D. Warman: 87/88 KC Pace forward recorded the assist as the 88 ODP Region II (Midwest) team beat the USA U17 (89) National Team 1-0 at the 2004 Thanksgiving ODP Interregional in Houston, Texas.
J.D. Warman: 87/88 KC Pace forward played with the 88 ODP Region II (Midwest) team when they lost 2-0 to the Brazil U18 (87) National Team at the 2006 Mediterranean International Cup in Barcelona, Spain.

KC Pace players invited to adidas ESP camp

2005: Justin True
2006: Justin True
2006: J.D. Warman

KC Pace players earn All America honors

2005: Brant Bishop: NSCAA/adidas High School Scholar All America (Park Hill South High School)
2005: Brant Bishop: NSCAA/adidas Youth All America (KC Pace)
2006: Matt Happy: NAIA All America Honorable Mention forward (William Jewell College)

Missouri State Cup Year-by-year

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KC Pace players in college soccer

Andrew Biggs 27-Loyola University Chicago, Brant Bishop 28-Stanford University, Michael Clayton 29-Butler University, Marty Cummings 30-Rockhurst University, Andy Fitzpatrick-Maple Woods Community College, Matt Happy 31-William Jewell College, Kyle Heiman 32-William Jewell College, Ryan Hennessy 33-Missouri State University, Haggai Leboo 34-Rockhurst University, Marcus Mallams 35-William Jewell College, Kevin Shrout 36-Drake University, Manny Tovar 37-William Jewell College, Justin True 38-Missouri State University, Nash Waters 39-William Jewell College, Eric Wimberley 40-Missouri State University & 41William Jewell College, Brian Wurst 42-The University of Tulsa

KC Pace players with college honors

Andrew Biggs-Loyola University Chicago: Member of Loyola University Chicago 2006 NCAA Division I National Tournament qualifying team.
Brant Bishop-Stanford University: CollegeSoccerNews.com 100 Freshman to Watch List (2006), All PAC-10 Academic Honorable Mention (2007).
Matt Happy-William Jewell College: HAAC All Conference 1st Team (2006), NSCAA/adidas All Region 1st Team (2006), NAIA All America Honorable Mention (2006). HAAC All Conference 1st Team (2007).Member of William Jewell College 2006 NAIA National Tournament qualifying team.
Ryan Hennessy-Missouri State University: Missouri Valley Conference All Newcomer Team (2006).
Haggai Leboo-Rockhurst University: GLVC All Conference 1st Team forward (2005), NSCAA/adidas All Region 1st Team forward (2005), NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II All Great Lakes Region 2nd Team forward (2007).
Marcus Mallams-William Jewell College: Member of William Jewell College 2006 NAIA National Tournament qualifying team.
Kevin Shrout-Drake University: Missouri Valley Conference All Newcomer Team (2006), MVC All Conference Honorable Mention (2007).
Manny Tovar-William Jewell College: Member of William Jewell College 2006 NAIA National Tournament qualifying team.
Nash Waters-William Jewell College: Member of William Jewell College 2006 NAIA National Tournament qualifying team.
Brian Wurst-The University of Tulsa: Member of University of Tulsa 2007 NCAA Division I National Tournament qualifying team.

KC Pace Rare Kits & Training Kit

KC Pace players in the Premier Development League (PDL)

KC Pace players who have played with the Kansas City Brass (PDL) in regular season matches: Brant Bishop, Michael Clayton, Ryan Hennessy, Haggai Leboo, J.D. Warman and Brian Wurst. Other KC Pace players who have participated in KC Brass exhibition matches: Matt Happy, Marcus Mallams and Eric Wimberley.

Miscellaneous

• The 87/88 KC Pace was a demonstrating team at the 2002 NSCAA Convention at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.
• After the 2004 MLS season, Kansas City Wizards midfielder Diego Gutierrez, needing a place to train due to a U.S. national team call-up, practiced with the 87/88 KC Pace in November of 2004.
• The 87/88 KC Pace was the demonstrating team in the spring of 2003 for Kansas City Wizards captain and midfielder Preki during a "Play Like Preki" DVD promotion at the Arrowhead Indoor Training Facility.
• The 87/88 KC Pace was a demonstrating team at the 2006 World Class Coaching Seminar at the

Arrowhead Practice Facility in Kansas City, Missouri. They demonstrated three sessions including sessions directed by former England national team captain David Platt and Penn State University men's head coach Barry Gorman.
*87/88 KC Pace coach Lincoln Roblee was named Missouri Youth Soccer Association Coach of the Year in 2005.
*87/88 KC Pace manager Allison Wurst was named Missouri Youth Soccer Association Parent of the Year in 2006.

External links

• Kansas City Pace official site
• KC Pace photos at 2006 & 2007 MYSA State Cup
• Missouri Youth Soccer Association
• Kansas Youth Soccer Association
• US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program
• Kansas City Wizards
• Butler University
• Drake University
• Loyola University Chicago
• Missouri State University
• Rockhurst University
• Stanford University
• The University of Tulsa
• William Jewell College
• Benedictine College
• Kansas City Brass USL site
• Kansas City Brass team photo (2007)
• Kansas City Brass official site
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
• adidas