News Release

MIDWEST REGIONAL LEAGUE NAMES FIRST COMMISSIONER
Long-time soccer executive Paul Luchowski appointed to new post

Overland Park, KS --- Paul Luchowski has been named Commissioner of US Youth Soccer Region II’s MIDWEST REGIONAL LEAGUE, it was announced today by Chris Christoffersen, Region II Director.

“We are excited to have Paul join our league as its chief executive officer,” stated Christoffersen. “His passion for soccer, extensive management experience and leadership skills at all levels of the sport make him a perfect fit to assist us in growing the Midwest Regional League.”

Luchowski, a long-time soccer executive, will immediately assume the duties of his newly created position, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the league.

The Midwest Regional League has more than 300 elite youth soccer teams participating in Boys and Girls divisions at the Under 14, Under 15, Under 16, Under 17 and Under 18 age groups across the 14 state associations that are part of US Youth Soccer Region II. It provides the highest standard of competitive play for youth teams and assures the continued growth and development of elite level players.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the best Region II teams, players, coaches, referees and administrators in a highly competitive environment,” said Luchowski. “The Midwest Regional League offers professionally managed competition in which teams earn the right to play the best teams in an organized league based upon their performance within their respective state level competitions. The Midwest Regional League provides a system to reward successful teams so that they can challenge themselves against others at the highest levels of elite youth team soccer.”

Luchowski, the founder and president of PL Sports Consulting, a sports management, marketing and operations firm, has been involved in soccer as a player, coach, referee and administrator. During his more than 10 years with the indoor National Professional Soccer League (1989-2000), Luchowski served as Director of Operations overseeing the day-to-day business and soccer operations of the circuit. He was instrumental in seeing the league’s growth from seven teams when he joined the league to 15 teams. While with the NPSL, Luchowski was the league’s representative to US Soccer’s Board of Directors, at one time serving as Chairman of the Professional Division, and member of the Board of Directors of the US Soccer Foundation. He continues to serve as a member of the grants committee for the Foundation. He was a four-year letterwinner and team captain at Cornell University where he earned his undergraduate degree in communication arts. Luchowski is a nationally licensed coach and former referee achieving State level status at age 18.

The Midwest Regional League is part of US Youth Soccer’s national league program that provides the highest level of team play for its top competitive teams. Champions of the MRL Premier Divisions in each age group of the MRL can earn Wild Card slots in the Region II Championships for the right to advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

US Youth Soccer Region II is composed of the state youth soccer associations based in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio North, Ohio South, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The region is an administrative part of US Youth Soccer-The Game for ALL Kids! ®, the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3.2 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, in 55 member state associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.