The 56ers NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) team is the only program in the Madison area that allows local premier amateurs to experience national level competition while continuing to develop their skills and abilities to successfully compete at a higher level.

We thank Head Coach Jim Launder for his continued efforts. Four former Madison 56ers NPSL players are now enjoying careers as professional soccer players:

• Aaron Hohlbein with the MLS Kansas City Wizards
• Brad Ring with the MLS San Jose Earthquakes
• Jed Hohlbein with VfB Susterfield in Germany
• Tenzin Rampa with the Milwaukee Wave

Many other players have had their collegiate careers enhanced and all have lasting memories they will enjoy for years to come.

Last year was the fifth season that the Madison 56ers have participated in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). The team finished the year in a three- way tie for first place in the NPSL Midwest Region with the Chicago Fire NPSL and the St. Paul Twin Stars, all with 16 points and identical records of five wins, one tie, and two losses. Unfortunately, the NPSL tiebreaker gave the Midwest Championship to the St. Paul Twin Stars. So for the second year in a row, the Madison 56ers were second place finishers. The 56ers also finished in a tie for the USASA Midwest National Amateur Cup Championship. Again, a tiebreaker left the 56ers in second place behind the AAC Chicago Eagles.

Five 56er players were 2009 NPSL Midwest Region All-Star selections:

Trevor Banks		Defender/Midfielder		Old Dominion Univ., VA
Brian Bultman		Defender		UW-Madison
Keith Dangarembwa		Midfielder		Kenyon College, OH
Pablo Delgado		Midfielder/Forward		UW-Madison
Jon Szafranski		Goalkeeper		St. Mary's University, MN

The 2009 56ers NPSL team was quite successful given the hurdles they faced. Six, longtime starters from the 2008 team completed college and did not return in 2009, moving on to new endeavors. The 2009 team also had a series of injuries, thankfully mostly minor, that prevented Coach Launder from starting the same team roster two games in a row. If 2009 was in many ways a rebuilding year, it was a most successful one. The team's final 2009 record for all games was seven wins, two ties, and three losses.

On the administrative side, a number of challenges were successfully over come regarding the operations of concessions at Breese Stevens Field, closure of Breese Stevens for half the season, and the lack of a press box and PA system. The 56ers NPSL volunteer group has gotten very competent at meeting the new challenges that arise every year, and successfully hosted the 2009 NPSL National Championship on July 31 and August 1 at Breese Stevens Field.

Team information is available at www.Madison56ers.org/NPSL. Feel free to contact the team atp NPSL@madison56ers.org.

The 2009 Madison 56ers NPSL Team