NPL Finals Best XI
Konnor Gribbins and Jonah Sipes were both named to the eleven-man NPL Finals Best XI All-Tournament Team. The top performing eleven players were selected from all the U13-U19 participants by coaches and US Club Soccer representatives. Columbus Express was the only club to have two players on the Best XI.
Gribbins, who recently completed his freshman year at Wittenberg University, was a dominant defensive presence for Express in every game. His impressive aerial victories combined with integral 1v1 defending helped the team to four wins and three goals conceded.
Sipes, a soon-to-be freshman at Trine University, was an instrumental two-way player for CESC all season long. Over the tournaments, he impressed with his ability to make plays with the ball from deep areas and deny opponents offensive opportunities with sound positioning and combative defending. Sipes finished the weekend with two goals.