BY DAN STICKRADT
Communications Specialist | Web And Content Editor | Director of News |
Social Media Director | Interns and Freelance Coordinator
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW: @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
SUTTONS BAY Mich. – Finnian Mankowski may be one of Michigan’s best kept secrets.
The Suttons Bay senior was just given some national exposure, as he was selected to the U.S. Olympic Developmental Program 2006 U-18 National Team, one of three Michigan players selected to the rosters in various age groups.
The other two are underclassmen, as St. Johns sophomore Damian Addai made the 2007 U-16 National Team, while freshman Magnus Meyer of Allendale earned a spot on the 2008 U-15 ODP National Team squad.
Mankowski had a memorable career playing for the Suttons Bay-North Bay Unified team, where Suttons Bay is the host school but also draws players from nearby Northport and Lake Leelanau St. Mary’s. The four-year starter earned Division 4 All-State Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore while also being honored as All-State First Team as both a junior and senior.
The 6-foot-2, 160-pound Mankowski, who plays center back at the club level with the TBAYS-Northstorm, starred in the midfield at the prep level. He notched 16 goals and 18 assists as a junior and 31 goals and 15 assists as a senior as an attacking midfielder – becoming one of the top offensive players in program history.
Mankowski finishes as a four-time All-Northwest Conference and All-District honoree. He is also a three-time All-Traverse City Record Eagle Area and made the Michigan Soccer Network All-Super Team last November.
A member of the ODP Midwest Team in his age group the past two-plus years, Mankowski is still unsigned.
The aforementioned Damian Addai, is climbing the ranks fast playing for St. Johns High School and in the Michigan Jaguars-Lansing Green 2008 on the club circuit. The attacking midfielder was one of his team’s top goal scorers and amongst the Redwings’ assist leaders playing behind several upperclassmen for a prep team that logged a few weeks in the Division 2 Top-15 rankings or listed as honorable mention. Addai earned All-Capital Area Athletic Conference Red Division Honorable Mention and All-District honors last fall.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Addai also plays basketball as a point guard and shooting guard.
For Magnus Meyer, the talented forward/midfielder was one of two freshmen to make the varsity at Allendale last August and made an impact in the attack. Although he was only All-District, the 5-foot-6, 150-pound Meyer is highly-skilled and physically and technically gifted and is far from his peak on the pitch.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)Â
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