TRURO - You can bet this is one birthday Nick Lindsay won't forget.
The Truro Heights resident will be celebrating his 15th bash in Cape Cod, Mass., this weekend with his Central Colchester Bears soccer teammates at the Cape Cod Harvest Cup, an international tournament that attracts teams from across Canada, the United States and even a few European entries.
"I'm pretty excited about it," the Bears' captain and centre midfielder said. "It's going to be great to be there with my teammates and friends."
The school will be sending both its boys and girls squads to the under-14 division of the event, which consists mostly of club teams. The tournament starts today but both Bears teams open play Saturday as the boys meet Martha's Vineyard while the girls take on a Connecticut-based squad.
The competition, stocked with plenty of talent on teams which play together all year round, is seen as a recruiting goldmine by prep schools and college programs. More than 150 scouts from various schools will be in attendance.
"We're not really going for that," Steve Lindsay, who coaches both Bears teams, said. "More for the experience of playing some different clubs and having a good time."
It'll be the most prestigious event most of the Bears players have ever competed in.
"This is the biggest thing I've done in soccer," girls captain Lexy Zegray said.
That was the whole reason why coach Lindsay wanted to take the players to the tournament. With many not being elite players, they may never have the chance to compete at an international tournament again.
"It's something different and something the kids may never get another chance to do," Lindsay said. "It'll be a lot of fun for them and that's why we're going."
That's what Nick is looking forward to most, adding he feels the effects of the trip will be felt in the program for years to come.
"It's going to be a good time and I think it'll really bring the team closer and be good for team bonding," he said. "I think that's really going to carry on for the next few years."
While the players can't wait for their trip to start, Nick said it's also something the whole school can celebrate.
"This is a big step for sports in the school," he said. "It really sets the bar high for the future."
sports@trurodaily.com
