The Sarasota Paradise wrapped up a thrilling and successful USL campaign with a hard-fought battle in the USL playoffs — a season marked by resilience, growth, and professionalism at every level. The tough 2-1 loss in the semi-finals was hard to swallow, but still a sign of BIG things to come.

While the final match may not have gone their way, and a few calls left players and fans scratching their heads, there’s no denying the heart and class shown by this group. In a league where moments can be decided by inches or whistles, the Paradise never lost their composure. From the players on the pitch to the leadership behind the scenes, they set an example of what it means to represent a club and a community with a professional lens.

At DME Academy, we are proud to support the Sarasota Paradise — not just for their success on the scoreboard, but for the way they carry themselves. As they continue their climb through the USL ranks, they are building more than a team — they’re building a movement. One that we at DME can relate too.

I love what Marcus and the team are doing. It is not easy to build a club and we both came onto the Sarasota soccer scene together. DME will always be a supporter of their effort. As I sat there tonight and heard my son chanting Let’s Go Paradise, I realized that soccer is and always will be about passion, hope and effort. Having the Paradise in our area provides our athletes with inspiration. This inspiration is crucial to their own growth. Thank you Marcus, Jivan, Felipe, and the rest of the crew – we appreciate your efforts.” – Jared Antista, GM DME

As the leading youth soccer program in the area, we recognize how important it is for our athletes to have local role models who exemplify passion, purpose, and professionalism. Sarasota Paradise is exactly that. Their impact on and off the field is helping shape the next generation of players, and we look forward to watching — and supporting — their continued ascent as we climb right next to them on the youth side of the game.

Congratulations to the Sarasota Paradise on a great season. The journey is only just beginning, and the DME community has your back.