Hays Post
Cedric Durr took first place in the 14U-15U age division of Keeper Wars U.S. Ink’s City Tour last month in Wichita.
That qualified the Hays goalkeeper for this summer’s U.S. Youth Soccer Keeper Wars National Championships in Orlando, Fla., for a second straight year.
The age-division winners at each City Tour competition automatically qualify for nationals, while the second- and third-place finishers are placed on a waiting list.
Durr had placed third in a City Tour event in Omaha, Neb., in November to make the waiting list. Then, with his first-place finish at the Wichita City Tour, he assured himself of a return trip to nationals.
At last year’s national championships, Durr made it all the way to the final four of the 12U-13U age division.
Knowing he would be moving up to the older age division this year after turning 13 in August, Durr has trained since the 2022 national competition with a larger ball, larger goals and on a larger field to prepare for this year’s competition.
With a trip to nationals secured, Durr — an eighth-grader at Hays Middle School — now can concentrate on preparing for his final soccer season at HMS this spring, which will begin in March.