Williams hoping to play soccer in Germany

SANDPOINT — Having already established himself as not just one of the best players high school players in Idaho, but in the western United States, Sandpoint soccer standout Tanner Williams is hoping to showcase his talents against some of the best in the world in May.

Williams, an Idaho Olympic Development Program member, was one 18 kids chosen for the Region IV ODP team, which will represent the U.S. in a tournament in Germany in May. For the second straight year, Williams was handpicked from among 280 ODP players from 14 western states, meaning he’s deemed one of the top 20 players his age in the west.

He played on the same ODP team last year that traveled to Argentina, and remembers being astonished at the high level of play. The slick and explosive forward got his first international taste of the world’s game.

“The competition level is ridiculously high,” he said of the tournament, acknowledging he’s used to being one of the top players on the field. “It’s kind of surprising how all of the kids are just as good if not better (than me). It’s different, that’s for sure, and you get to play in a different surrounding.”

Williams scored 13 goals and dished out eight assists last year as a junior, helping lead Sandpoint to its second straight state title. He then played in front of hundreds of college scouts at the Disney College Showcase in Orlando this Christmas, scoring two goals in the tournament to win the Golden Boot award and secure an invitation on the team traveling to Germany.

Former Sandpoint player Brian Farber, who currently plays professionally for the Portland Timbers and California Cougars, also played on the Region IV ODP team and sees a little bit of himself in Williams. Farber, who played in college at Oregon State and has been telling the coaches all about Williams, calls the opportunity to play in Germany rare and huge.

“This is one of those chances that doesn’t come along often; you can’t pass it up,” said Farber, who plans to donate from his summer soccer camp to help ensure Williams can make the trip. “It’s a huge accomplishment, a one in 20,000 type of chance. He gets to go over and show his stuff and represent his country.”

Oregon State and Gonzaga are among the college teams expressing interest in Williams, who will be the focal point of the Sandpoint attack this fall as a senior. First he’s hoping to get the chance to play in Munich, a trip that will cost nearly $1,000. His parents have helped foot the travel costs in the past, but it’s becoming increasingly more difficult as Williams continues to earn prestigious tournament invitations.

To help raise money for the trip, there will be a fundraising dance on Saturday (see inset box). Last year more than 150 high school students turned out for the dance to help him raise money to get to Argentina. He still has a good luck poster signed by the kids at last year’s dance hanging in his room.