DME Academy, Sarasota - NAL National Champs U16

DME Academy Sarasota Captures First National Championship in Club History

June 18, 2026

2010 Boys Complete Historic Undefeated Season with National Academy League Title

SARASOTA, Fla. — History has been made.

In just its third year of existence, DME Academy, Sarasota has claimed the first National Championship in club history, as the 2010 Boys (U16) completed one of the most dominant seasons seen in the National Academy League (NAL).

The championship is more than a trophy, it represents the continued rise of DME Academy, Sarasota as one of the premier player development clubs in Florida and serves as another milestone in the club’s rapid ascent to MLS NEXT competition beginning next season.

The numbers tell the story.

The 2010 Boys finished the National Academy League regular season with a flawless 15-0-0 record, outscoring opponents 103-6 while establishing themselves as one of the most complete teams in Florida. Among more than 365 U16 boys teams statewide, DME has consistently maintained a Top 25 ranking, a remarkable achievement for a program still in its infancy.

Then came Nationals.

The boys elevated their game even further competing with various playing styles from across the country.

DME stormed through group play with a perfect 3-0 record, defeating some of the nation’s best clubs:

Columbus United (Ohio) – Ranked #15 in Ohio
Cohansey (New Jersey) – Ranked #30 in New Jersey
Liverpool FC NAL (Massachusetts) – Ranked #10 in Massachusetts

The knockout rounds brought even tougher challenges.

DME defeated Charlotte Eagles (North Carolina), one of the state’s top-ranked clubs, before delivering a commanding 4-1 victory over St. Louis Scott Gallagher (Missouri)—ranked #6 in Missouri—to capture the National Championship.

Over five matches, DME outscored its opponents 13-3, finishing Nationals with a perfect 5-0 record.

Throughout the tournament, every player played a role.

Some delivered game-changing goals.

Others produced crucial assists.

The defensive unit was relentless, conceding just three goals across five matches, while the team’s mentality never wavered.

The belief inside the group was simple:

This was our year. Lucky sheep and all!

The championship was guided by an outstanding technical staff led by Assistant Director of Coaching John Taylor, alongside Assistant Coach Rich Hynes, Goalkeeper Coach Mathis Leveque, Physio Konrad Kozlowski, and Club GM Jared Antista.

“This group earned every bit of this,” said John Taylor. “From day one they bought into being coached, competing every single day, and holding each other accountable. Talent gets you noticed, but commitment and heart wins championships and that comeback win over Liverpool is the proof. What makes me most proud isn’t just the trophy, it’s watching these young men grow into teammates who genuinely play for one another and have each others back when a teammates gets taken out from behind.”

Assistant Coach Rich Hynes echoed that sentiment.

“This team has a lot of weapons,” Hynes said. “Our strength has always been our versitility. Every player accepted their role, trusted the process, and when their moment came, they delivered. That’s what championship teams do. Watching this group finish the job on the national stage was incredibly rewarding.”

For DME Academy Sarasota Founder and General Manager Jared Antista, the title validates the club’s long-term vision.

“What’s so exciting about this victory is that it comes at the perfect time as we transition into MLS NEXT next season,” Antista said. “This team, along with several others, is a major reason why DME Academy, Sarasota continues to move up the national landscape. Our 2013, 2014, and 2009 boys all qualified for NAL Nationals as well, and our depth back home in Sarasota has never been stronger. This championship isn’t the finish line, it’s proof that what we’re building is working, without all the fluff you hear from traditional clubs in our area.”

The National Academy League is one of the nation’s premier youth soccer platforms, sitting directly beneath MLS NEXT within the U.S. player development pyramid. Featuring 13 conferences and hundreds of clubs from across the country, earning a National Championship requires consistent excellence over an entire season against elite competition from coast to coast.

For DME Academy, Sarasota, this championship represents more than a banner. It represents validation.

Three years ago, the club set out to build something different, an environment centered around player development, top coaching, and a winning culture. In just three seasons, that vision has produced state rankings, national respect, an MLS NEXT pathway, and now the first National Championship in club history.

The future has never been brighter.