Club News: Successful Arkansas-Based 16U Team Joins Iowa Premier Organization

More and more, we’re seeing successful club teams merge or migrate to new organizations. Sometimes, it’s a matter of geography; sometimes it can be philosophical fit.

For Bryan Lacina, he had built his Tulsa Elite 2023 National team based out of Bentonville, Arkansas, into a formidable national team—a true 15U squad doing well at 16U.

Over the last year the 2023 team went 60-20-4 with notable finishes as HFL Cup Champions, 3^rd at Top Club Fall Invite, 2^nd at the AFCS Winter Nationals, 2^nd at Team1 Elite Club Invite and 9^th at Colorado IDT.

Coach Lacina noticed The Iowa Premier organization and how the head of the program, Greg Dickel, had similar mindsets.

“When I put this 15U team together in the fall of 2020,” he explains, “I had two main objectives I wanted the girls to achieve.  First, was to step up and compete against the top-tier 16U’s in the country.  Second, was to build a name and following for my players.”

Comparing his goals to that of the Iowa team, he added: “I would say they did a great job on both fronts.  Like iron sharpens iron and I firmly believe that playing tough competition makes you better. We played some of the country’s top teams including Iowa Premier on several occasions.”

That, he explains, is how the relationship with Coach Dickel began to grow.

“I had heard Greg’s name over the years, but we didn’t really get to know one another until our teams started competing against each other last fall.”

The two head coaches from the middle of the country saw they had parallel goals and visions for their players and the germination of the seed to work together was planted.

“The idea of joining Iowa Premier’s program was talked about and I wanted to make sure I took time to evaluate and choose the best path for my players,” Lacina remembers and decided he wanted to make that plan happen. “I believe, without a doubt, that being part of Iowa Premier is the best option for my players.”

What made the Iowa-based organization the best fit to integrate with, he was asked.

“There are a lot of commonalities in culture, player development, and the desire to compete to be the best which makes it a true win-win for my players and the Iowa Premier organization.”

Coach Dickel says that he too is fired up about the new team being brought into the fold.

“We are extremely excited to add Coach Lacina’s team to the Iowa Premier Family,” he begins. “Over the past several years I’ve had the privilege of watching this group compete and was—and continue to be—very impressed with the high level of play they compete at.”

The Iowa Premier Club Director and head coach of the successful 18U team says the first conversations of merging together began about a year ago.

“Last Fall, Bryan and I talked briefly about his team coming over, the pros and cons, and how it may all work,” Dickel continues.

“It was left there and the idea went quiet and dormant after that.  Bryan then reached out last week and wanted to know if I still had interest in the idea.  ‘Of course,’ I said. ‘Yes!’  He has a great team and I very much admire how he coaches and leads his players.”

“He told me it was time and that he liked the opportunities we could provide for his players on the national stage and in recruiting.  He felt confident in our abilities on those fronts, given our success over the past five years.”

Now, after just barely a week tying up loose ends, the merger is complete.

“The rest is history,” Dickel adds. “We believe it will be a great addition to the already strong core of teams we have here at Iowa Premier and we are equally excited about helping the team achieve their long and short term goals.”

Coach Lacina echos those statements.

“I’m looking forward to the future,” he concludes, “and can’t wait to hit the dirt as Iowa Premier 16U National – Lacina.”

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2021-2022 Iowa Premier National 16U – Lacina