HMS Black Rock Football Club Hosts Winter Showcase

In February, the High Mowing School boy's Black Rock Football Club (BRFC) hosted a winter showcase with 10 top teams from Canada, Puerto Rico, and throughout the United States, including the New England Revolution MLS Next teams. More than 60 top college coaches also attended from all over the country.

During the weekend games, the HMS Dragons boys' team triumphed on Saturday with a 1-0 win against the BRFC Northwood team and a narrow defeat to BRFC Right to Dream 0-1. On Sunday the team secured a 1-1 tie with New England Revolution and a tight game, falling 0-1, to the Sigma team from Canada. All four games presented the toughest competition, and the boys' performance was impressive throughout the weekend.

"This was our best showcase opportunity of the year, bringing coaches from all over the country and playing on one field. It meant all eyes on everyone in the showcase during their time on the field," says Scott Miller, HMS athletic director, director of Black Rock FC Residential Academies, and BRFC boys head coach.

In 2019, HMS connected with the Black Rock Football Club to form one of Black Rock's four US-based residential academies, bringing high-level soccer players from across the world to HMS to train for collegiate or professional play. For the 2023-24 school year, HMS welcomed 40 soccer players from 15 countries to its New Hampshire campus.

HMS Black Rock soccer players have gone on to collegiate and even professional careers, including NCAA Division 1 programs like Providence, University of Nebraska Omaha, Coastal Carolina, and East Carolina University, as well as the professional Top Tier Finnish side SJK Seinajoki. Some students who have been at HMS for years have also joined the soccer program and two of them were able to participate in the NCAA Division III National Tournament in the fall of 2023.

Because the games were played at the nearby Hampshire Dome in Milford, New Hampshire, HMS students, families, and community members were able to come support the team.

"It's really nice for the players to have the support of the community as they navigate their dreams of playing collegiate soccer at the highest level," Miller says. "The support brings out the best in them."