The Boys U16 soccer team is part of the Shattuck St. Mary’s Boys Soccer Signature Program, which is a well-established, elite-level soccer program and a member of the MLS NEXT elite youth development platform. The program provides nearly double the training hours, games, and showcase opportunities than most programs with the added benefit of being uniquely built into the demanding academic schedule of a college prep school.
Student-athletes train daily with competition on weekends, afternoons, or evenings and each participates in a year-round strength and conditioning program. Players have access to three full-sized soccer fields (one indoor synthetic turf, one outdoor synthetic turf, and one natural grass), a 10,500 sq. foot weight training and conditioning facility, video room for team and individual analysis, as well as an athletic training room providing advanced aquatic therapy and full-time athletic training staff.
SSM has placed an impressive 99 percent of its players in collegiate soccer programs and has contributed two players to the Men’s National Team, eleven players to professional teams, thirteen players to the Youth National Team, and two players to the Futsal National Team.
I joined the Boys Soccer program in August of 2019 as the U17 and U16 Assistant Coach. Previously, I served as an assistant with Annandale United U23 and Bishop Ireton High School.
I attended Radford University and played a key role on our back-to-back Big South regular season championship teams in 2014 and 2015. I was also recognized as the Big South Defensive Player of the Year in my final season and earned several other individual accolades, inluding selections to the Big South Conference First Team, the VaSID First Team, and the All-South Region First Team.
After I graduated in 2015, I spent the next few years pursuing a playing career and spent time with Oklahoma City Energy U23s, Grythyttans IF, and the Philadelphia Fury. The game took me around the world and I met others who shared my passion for the game. I was lucky to become a part of several unique communities.
After a serious concussion, I spent some time away from soccer. but never lost the love I had for the game. I wanted to keep it as part of my life! That was what brought me back to Annandale United, the youth club I played for growing up and during my summers home from college. I was working a day job and coaching with them three nights a week. I realized that those evenings spent coaching were what I looked forward to the most at the start of each week and started looking for a chance to make it a bigger part of my life.
I can remember the impact that each of my coaches had on my understanding of the game. My favorite aspect of being a coach is the opportunity to help players improve at such an important stage of their lives and seeing them develop as players and grow as people.
George bediko, Boys Soccer Assistant Coach
Email: george.bediko@s-sm.org
I joined Shattuck St. Mary’s in March of 2025 with NCAA Division I and semi-professional soccer experience, and I bring every bit of that background into my work with the athletes at Shattuck. Growing up in Ghana, the game took me places I could only dream of — including four years at Campbell University, where our team won five Big South titles, made three NCAA College Cup appearances, and posted a 21-1-2 Big South regular season record over my final three seasons. Individually, I earned Big South Championship MVP, First-Team All-Conference, and All-Tournament honors in 2021, and was a two-time all-conference selection across my career. During and after college, I played in the USL League Two with Wake FC in 2019 and Asheville City FC, where we won the conference championship and qualified for the national playoffs in 2022.
Now as a coach, my focus is simple: help athletes become the best version of themselves — on the field and off it. I know what it takes to compete at a high level, and I'm here to pass that on. At Shattuck St. Mary's, I'm committed to developing players who are technically sharp, mentally tough, and ready to lead wherever the game takes them.
