Suttons Bay senior Finn Mankowski will be saying “Pura Vida” at the end of March as he was selected to represent the US National Soccer Team in Costa Rica during a Spring Break soccer tournament.
Mankowski made the U.S. National Soccer Team earlier this month and was invited to play in a tournament throughout Costa Rica against professional teams from the Central American country.
“I’ve been working on it for years and just to kind of finally get to where I have been trying to go is super rewarding and a really awesome feeling. It’s just kind of like a sense of accomplishment. So that was him. That’s huge.”
Mankowski has been trying out for the national team for the past couple of seasons, but failed to make the cut each time.
At the end of January, Mankowski attended his last tryout for the national team, and this time proved he could compete amongst the best American soccer players. Mankowski shined during the “combine-like” tryouts that featured its own tournament. He was selected to the Midwest team and battled the South, East, and West teams during the tryout.
“Every kid has a shot to get selected ... You go and you play against everybody and then you’re on a team with them in a month and a half,” Mankowski said. “I maximized my opportunity from it. I’ve been working on doing that for years, so it was pretty sweet to finally get accepted and make the national team.”
Mankowski will be teaming up with players across the country from California to New York to fellow Michiganders. Other locals to tryout for the high-level soccer program were TC West soccer players Aidan Orth and Brody Plumstead.
The Suttons Bay soccer star isn’t fazed by playing against this level of competition and is focused on doing his job.
“I try to just do what the coach tells me to do. As long as I go out there and do what I know I can do and implement whatever the coaches tactic is that he wants me to use throughout the game ... I’m gonna do whatever I can to follow his instructions to the best of my ability,” Mankowski said.
Mankowski is continuing to play guard for the Suttons Bay boys basketball team as they advance in the district tournament. The Norsemen defeated Grand Traverse Academy on Monday.
Mankowski is simply focused on staying in shape and getting as many touches on the ball as he can before the international tournament.
“You can just try to keep your skills honed in and hope for the best when you go. There’s not a whole lot of preparation that you can do,” he said. “Keeping your touches and then staying in shape obviously is huge.”
USMNT (U-19) will primarily be staying in the Costa Rican capital city of San Jose, while traveling to various other cities within the country.
Mankowski has been playing travel soccer ever since he can remember with his dad, and coach, Len Mankowski on the sidelines. Mankowski scored 31 goals during the 2023 fall season along with nine assists.
