Kai Longanecker representing Sandpoint soccer on national level

SANDPOINT — On Monday, Aug. 19, it was officially announced that Kai Longanecker of Sandpoint High was named to the roster of the U.S. Youth Soccer’s West Region 2024-2025 Olympic Development Program, a national program that identifies and develops the top youth soccer players in the United States.

As reported by SoccerWire, a news and information provider to the elite youth soccer community, the ODP was developed by U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS) in 1977 to help facilitate growth and development among young soccer players and to help identify the best youth soccer talent across the country. Also according to SoccerWire, many of the nation’s top players end up playing for an ODP club at some point in their youth careers, including over 90 percent of the United States’ 2019 Women’s World Cup roster.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” Longanecker, who has a deep love and joy for the sport, said. “All credit goes to my coaches, family, and friends for getting me to the level I am now. I am excited to represent the West and the Sandpoint soccer community!”

Kai’s progression from a young, local player to one of the top athletes in his age group serves as a testament to the strength of the Sandpoint soccer community.

Longanecker was the goalkeeper for last year’s ’07 Idaho state ODP team that won the ODP Far West Championships. Over the years, Longanecker has developed his skills through the Sandpoint Strikers and later the Spokane Sounders ECNL. Longanecker, the brother of current SHS varsity player Pax Longanecker and former Sandpoint High standout, Jett Longanecker, who now plays for the College of Idaho, was a First Team All-State selection as a sophomore at Sandpoint High. This past summer, he was the starting goalkeeper for the Spokane Shadow Men's First Team, which consists of current and past professional, semi-professional, and collegiate soccer players. To top it all off, Longanecker is currently on trial with Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City Academy.

The official ODP boys ’07 roster consists of three other players from Idaho, Baraka Dayi of Boise High, David Muyolo of Centennial High, and Parfait Niyonkuru of Capital High. The full roster includes: Kai Longanecker, Idaho; Jacob Aiona, Hawaii; Ricks “Bodie” Ford, Utah; Aukele Paikuli-Campbell, Hawaii; Samuel Miller, Oregon; Luke Manandic, Oregon; John McAllister, Utah; Conner O’Keefe, Washington; Alemayehu Hopkins, Utah; Carter Archuleta, Utah; Thomas Lucas, Utah; Parfait Niyonkuru, Idaho; Bryson Quintero, Oregon; Kade Fisher, Colorado; Micah Maljian, California South; Baraka Dayi, Idaho; David Muyolo, Idaho; Finley Reynolds, Washington.

The team’s head coach will be Johnny Broadhead, eighth-year head coach of men’s soccer at Utah Tech University (NCAA Division I); assistant coach will be Graeme Japp, sixth-year head coach of men's soccer at California State University at Monterey Bay (NCAA Division II); and goalkeeper coach will be Larkin Noble, a former USL League Two goalkeeper coach for the Park City Red Wolves and Salt City SC, volunteer goalkeeper coach at Salt Lake Community College, and a coach for the ODP Region 4 and the ODP national teams.

Competing amongst the best players from all corners of the country, Longanecker is aiming for a future ODP National Team selection.