HARRISON, N.J. (October 16, 2015) – More than 10,000 campers participated in skills challenges over the course of the summer and on Sunday Oct. 4, nine winners from eight age groups were determined in the Skills Challenge Grand Final presented by Hackensack University Medical Center and Hospital for Special Surgery at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, N.J.
The winners will be honored at halftime of this Sunday’s match between New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union on Oct. 18 at Red Bull Arena (TV: MSG+ 2). Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
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Connor Lade, Anthony Wallace and Ronald Zubar attended the Grand Final on Oct. 4 to speak with the players, demonstrate the challenges and compete against each other. Wallace emerged as the winner in a light hearted challenge between the three MLS players, while the 100 campers battled each other in pursuit of the 2015 Skills Challenge Champion title.
The 10 top scorers from each age group, from 2001 to 2008 birth years, will parade the field at halftime in the Red Bulls’ final home match of the regular season. Overall winners will receive their trophies at midfield on the big screen and all names will scroll across the video board to commemorate their achievements.
The Skills Challenge features five aspects, testing each player’s dribbling, passing, shooting, receiving and turning abilities. Challenges are intended to provide a baseline so players can compare their development from year-to-year.
The following list are names of the nine champions, separated by birth year:
- 2008: Pierce Siegel
- 2007: Isiah Knowles and Jonathan Mitchell
- 2006: Andy Uku
- 2005: Charlie Miles
- 2004: Ruby Sember
- 2003: Bella Sember
- 2002: Reagan Pauwels
- 2001: William Devore
For more information on the Skills Challenge presented by Hackensack University Medical Center and Hospital for Special Surgery and to view the challenges, visit the Skills Challenge page on RedBullsAcademy.com.
About Hospital for Special Surgery
Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics, No. 3 in rheumatology and No. 7 in geriatrics by U.S. News & World Report (2015-2016), and is the first hospital in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center three consecutive times. HSS has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. HSS is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College and as such all Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are faculty of Weill Cornell. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.
About Hackensack University Medical Center
HackensackUMC, a 775-bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. Founded in 1888 as the county’s first hospital, it is the flagship hospital of Hackensack University Health Network, one of the largest health networks in the state comprised of 1,717 beds, more than 10,000 team members and 3,300 credentialed physicians. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015-16 Best Hospital rankings - maintaining its place atop the NJ rankings since the rating system was introduced. It was also named one of the top four New York Metro Area hospitals. HackensackUMC is the only hospital in New Jersey, New York and New England to be named one of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals™ nine consecutive years, and receive the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 13 years in a row. The medical center is one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country according to Practice Greenhealth, and received 23 Gold Seals of Approval™ by the Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence; receiving its fifth consecutive designation in 2014. HackensackUMC has created an entire campus of award-winning care, including: the John Theurer Cancer Center; the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women’s and Children’s Pavilion, which houses the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and Donna A. Sanzari Women’s Hospital, which was designed with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center and listed on the Green Guide’s list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. HackensackUMC is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls and is Official Medical Services Provider to The Barclays PGA Golf Tournament. It remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.
