Cory Santangelo selected to play on USA All-Star Team

2017 May 25

Cory Santangelo of Sayvillle, NY has been selected to play on a USA Division III All-Star team that will be competing in Brazil May 29-June7. In addition, SUNY Oneonta Head Coach Iain Byrne will serve as the head coach of the men's team. Santangelo will be joined by his two teammates Kevin Hoff and Austin Hughes.

"I am really proud of these three players that will be representing Oneonta and the USA on this trip," stated Byrne. "This is a richly deserved honor after their performances that has propelled our team to two Final Fours and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in their first three seasons at Oneonta. This tour promises to be a once in a lifetime experience."

Santangelo started 17 of 19 games last fall and registered four goals and two assists. He was named to the SUNYAC All-Conference third team.

The Red Dragons finished 16-7-1 overall while advancing to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament last fall.

The USA team will begin with an orientation in Orlando before flying to Sao Paulo, Brazil for practice on May 30 and games on May 31 and June 1.

Teams will then travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for two additional games on either June 3, 4 or 5. While in Brazil the teams will experience educational, cultural and social aspects of Brazilian life through city, school and sports club visits.

The team will be staying on the famous Copacabana Beach in Rio and touring the Christ the Redeemer Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain, two of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.

The USA D-3 Soccer Teams will also visit sites and venues from the 2014 Soccer World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

About USA Sports Tours and Events

With 22 years coaching and administration experience at the Division I level, Ron Smith is offering his experiences and expertise with the organization and administration of sports tours and events.

"I have been fortunate throughout my career in athletics to be a part of some 'once in a lifetime' experiences," says Smith. "My international basketball travel has included Europe, South America, Caribbean, and Australia. I want to be able to share these same types of experiences with athletes and coaches regardless of their level of competition. As a college recruiter, I was always looking for an attractive destination trip for our team each year. These trips were good incentives in the recruiting process. More importantly these trips became fantastic lifetime memories for our athletes, coaches, administration, families and boosters."