Ethiopian soccer player among key players competing on more than 350 elite youth clubs competing at ESPN Wide World of Sports in coveted November event

Widely regarded as the leading elite youth soccer tournament in the nation, the Disney Junior Soccer Showcase attracts the top U13 and U14 boys and girls soccer clubs from across the country and features nearly 4,500 athletes during the three-day event.

Micah Worton (Franklin, Tenn.), known to his teammates as Shewit, was born in Ethiopia. As a young child in Ethiopia, Shewit was sent out to protect a herd of sheep when one of the sheep was attacked by a tiger. Shewit escaped but was near death and unable to walk. His uncle found him and carried him for two hours to the nearest orphanage. His feet were so badly infected that doctors told the young boy his feet would need to be amputated to save his life, but after three days it was determined that his feet could be saved. Now just a few years later, Shewit will be playing for the U13 Nashville FC 02 Boys Rowdies in the Disney Junior Soccer Showcase beginning on Nov. 28 at 10:15 a.m. at Northeast Regional Park (Field 4) and continuing at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Field 28) at 5:15 p.m.

Since putting patches on their jerseys in honor of the late Candice Williams, the South Carolina UFC 01 Boys Elite have gone undefeated at 14-0-1, even despite playing up in the U14 division for the Carolina Cup. The team sits atop the state standings heading into the Disney Junior Soccer Showcase this weekend. Alex Williams (Columbia, SC) turned to sports when he was just a few years old as a way to help his competitive mother Candice recover from her first bout with brain cancer. After many years in remission, the cancer returned two years ago and Candice began another fight. Alex, too, began to fight – fight to do his best on the field knowing his mother loved to watch him play. Over the last two years, Alex used his mother’s inspiration to fight his way from the club’s third level team onto the South Carolina UFC Boys Elite team this year. Unfortunately, Candice lost her battle with brain cancer before seeing her son play a minute for the elite team. The South Carolina UFC 01 Boys Elite put their undefeated record to the test on Nov. 28 at 8:45 a.m. at Champions Gate Fields (Field 8) and continue at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Field 29) at 3:30 p.m.

Among the elite teams competing are the USYS National Championship finalists Baltimore Celtic (Baltimore, Md.), Florida State Cup champion Tampa Bay United (Tampa, Fla.), Texas North State Champion Wizards FC (Dallas, Tex.) and Massachusetts state semifinalist FC Blazers (Needham Heights, Mass.). The U14 Arsenal FC youth academy team from London, England will be headlining an elite eight-team group.

For a complex schedule, visit http://www.espnwwos.com/events/soccer/disney-junior-soccer-showcase.

Media interested in applying for credentials should contact Cody Norman at cody.x.norman.-nd@disney.com.