Published: July 19, 2008 12:07 am            

Cervi makes Olympic soccer team

By Michael Kinney

Transcript Sports Writer

Dominic Cervi found a unique way to celebrate what may have been the most important news he has ever gotten. He went to sleep.

That was Cervi’s reaction Thursday when he found out he made the final cut for the 2008 United States national soccer team that will compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Cervi, who is in London trying out for the English Premier Soccer League, was awakened by a call from his father telling him that he was one of 22 members to make the Olympic team. But because he was still struggling with the time change, all the former Norman North star could do was close his eyes and fall back asleep.

“Obviously I was thrilled,” Cervi said. “But I was too tired to do anything.”

Cervi is one of four alternates to be named to the team. He is flying to San Jose, Calif, where he will join the likes of Brian McBride, Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley as they prepare for the Beijing Olympics with a six day training session that starts Sunday.

“After an extensive process of evaluation, we are very excited about the group of players that we have chosen to represent the United States at the Olympic Games,” Men’s Olympic team coach Peter Nowak stated on the team’s Web site. “It has been a very competitive environment, and we had some tough decisions to make. It’s no secret that we have a difficult challenge in front of us with our group, which is one of the most difficult in the tournament. We know that some players are coming in during the off-season, and some are in season so we have to make sure that everyone is on the same page during our preparations.”

Even though Cervi, a 6-foot-6, 204-pound keeper, will just be one of the men representing his country in China, he knows that his road to the Olympics will be quite different than everyone else on his team.

After finishing a solid career at the University of Tulsa, Cervi attended a MLS Combine in Ft. Lauderdale. Fla. He, along with 60 other prospects, were there hoping to catch the eye of a few pro scouts.

Instead it was Peter Nowak, the U.S. U-23 coach, who became interested. He invited Cervi to the training facility, which was right down the road. The rest is history.

“It’s an unlikely trip,” Cervi said. “Don’t know how many people have done it this way. I venture to guess I am the first. It’s the road less traveled. But as long as it gets me there, it’s good.”

At North Cervi led the Timberwolves to the 2003 5A state title. Even then he would never have imagined he would one day don the red, white and blue colors for his country.

According to the 22-year-old Cervi, it wasn’t until earlier this year, during his time with U-23 team, that it hit him that he might have a shot at making the Olympic team.

Cervi became the Chicago Fire’s first round pick in the MLS draft this year. If he makes it into the English Premier League also, 2008 will be impossible for him to top in the future.

“All the hard work,” Cervi said. “Everything I have dreamed of since my first year in college. You wouldn’t think someone like me, six months out of college, would be on the Olympic team. Representing your country in the Olympics is every athlete’s dream.”

Michael Kinney366-3537mkinney@normantranscript.com

        

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