Named the High School National Players of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and adidas, Ducci and Weiss automatically qualify for the Powerade McDonald's All American Games, which will feature the top graduating high school soccer players in the country in East v. West matches for both boys and girls. Both games will take place on June 15, 2002, at Blackbaud Stadium, home of the A-League Charleston Battery, on Daniel Island, Charleston, S.C. Walters was granted automatic status into the All American Games by virtue of a neck-and-neck finish with Ducci in the Player of the Year balloting.

The remaining players will be named to the four teams in May. The 72 All Americans ultimately selected to play will come from a selection pool of more than 1,000 nominees from across the United States.

"It is an honor for Joe, David and Kristen to be the first three players named to play in the Powerade McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games," commented Jerry Smith, women's soccer coach at Santa Clara University, the 2001 NCAA Division I champions. Smith helped the players with the first public showing of the All American game jerseys supplied by adidas. "These star players are role models who represent the high standards and qualities that the All American Games' sponsors want to promote: soccer skills, scholarship, citizenship, and volunteerism."

"When the rest of the players are named to join Joe, David and Kristen, the Powerade McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games will showcase the finest high school soccer players in the country," said Rohan Oza, Senior Brand Manager for Powerade. "It will be very exciting to see these fine players compete against each other and, through their efforts, contribute to two very worthwhile charities that help children overcome serious health problems."

Net proceeds from the All American soccer games will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Rotary Gift of Life. Both non-profit organizations provide health care services for children.

In addition to the matches themselves, the All American players will participate in community-oriented soccer activities, including participatory events for children, high school students and parents. Also on tap are visits to the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston and the Rotary Gift of Life program at the Medical University of South Carolina.

"Joe, David and Kristen, as well as the other All Americans, will be great ambassadors for youth achievement," noted John Lewicki, Director of Sports Marketing for McDonald's. "That is why it is so important in organizing the All American Games for us to provide activities that allow the All Americans to interact with the host community's young people. That will include a soccer jamboree in addition to the visits to Charleston's Ronald McDonald House and the Medical University's Children's Hospital."

The uniforms for the All American Games will be visible on the field of play as well as McDonald's restaurants and high schools around the country. "We are using a red, white, and blue theme in designing the uniforms," stated Chris McGuire, Director of Soccer Promotions for adidas America. "We not only want to emphasize a patriotic theme, we want to provide commemorative jerseys that will be prominently displayed in the players' hometowns to remind their communities of the achievements and contributions that student athletes can make."

The selection process for naming Ducci and Weiss as the Players of the Year, as well as for selecting the other All Americans, is conducted by the NSCAA. "We think it is beneficial to recognize young people as they succeed both on and off the fields of play," said Jim Thieser, President of the NSCAA. "The sponsors of the All America Games promote good citizenship and community service by showcasing the efforts of our top high school student athletes in the context of games that are also fundraisers for charities that service young people."

POWERADE, a brand of The Coca-Cola Company, is a system of high performance sports drinks that are engineered to satisfy hydration and energy needs. POWERADE recently launched a new and improved formula featuring vitamins B3, B6 and B12, which play a role in energy and metabolism. In addition, the brand added POWERADE light, with 50 percent fewer calories, to its line of hydration and energy beverages. The Coca-Cola Company is the world's leading non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer, marketer and distributor, producing more than 230 brands that reach almost 200 countries.

McDonald's is the world's largest global foodservice retailer, with more than 28,000 restaurants serving more than 45 million people each day in 121 countries. Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's worldwide restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees.

adidas will be the Official Supplier of Soccer Products and a National Sponsor of the POWERADE McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games. adidas is the leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of soccer products worldwide and in the United States. adidas is also one of the world's most successful sporting goods companies, supplying products for more Olympic sports than any other manufacturer and distributing products in approximately 160 countries.

Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and adidas all support soccer worldwide and are official sponsors of the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The NSCAA is the world's largest soccer coaches' organization. Founded more than 60 years ago, its 16,000-plus members are dedicated to coaching education as well as recognizing achievement in soccer. The NSCAA's annual convention is the world's largest gathering of soccer coaches.