(This story is an updated story from an October 8 report announcing Meyer-Crothers traveling with the U.S. Men's Cerebral Palsy National Team)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin senior Jonah Meyer-Crothers recently concluded a memorable international soccer trip. 

A native of Sylvania, Ohio, Meyer-Crothers was a member of the United States Cerebral Palsy National Soccer team that competed at the IFCPF Copa America Oct. 8-18 in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The Sylvania Northview High School graduate helped lead the United States team to the gold medal and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. At the tournament, the United States team went 3-0-1. Meyer-Crothers scored an important stoppage time goal in a 1-1 draw with Argentina. The draw helped the United States top its group and advance to the semifinals where it defeated Canada 6-0. The United States team then defeated Argentina 4-1 in the tournament final to claim gold. The win allowed the United States to claim the team's first major trophy of the modern IFCPF era and second regional championship in the program's 33-year history. Meyer-Crothers scored the eventual winning goal in the second half to up the United States up 2-1. He later scored a clinching goal in the waning moments of the match to make it 4-1. 

Meyer-Crothers was named to the 14-man U.S. Men's Cerebral Palsy National Team earlier this fall.

The U.S. Men's Cerebral Palsy National Team is for eligible qualifying player with Cerebral Palsy, stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Meyer-Crothers has cerebral palsy and has used soccer to battle through his condition his whole life. This will be his second major competition with Team USA. As a senior in high school, he traveled to Salou, Spain, helping the United States to a fourth-place finish in the IFCPF World Cup, Team USA's best finish at the competition. Team USA has given him the opportunity to play around the world with stops in England, Scotland, Spain, Australia and soon Uruguay.

Over the last four years, he has been a member of the Calvin men's soccer team, collecting five goals and nine assists while playing as a winger, and at times as an outside defensive back.

He left the Calvin men's soccer team for international duty the morning after a 1-1 draw at rival Hope and returned to the team this past Monday. While abroad, he continued his Calvin studies online.

"I'm very thankful to Coach Souders and to my (Calvin) professors for extending grace to me so that I could have this opportunity," said Meyer-Crothers. "To have the chance again to represent your country was an amazing honor. I went into the tournament with God as my guide. There was pressure with the opportunity but with God's help, I was able to meet the challenge."

When on international duty, he adjusted to a new style of play as the competition was a seven player aside format.  He is a midfielder. "With only seven players, there is a bit more attacking as a midfielder but there are defensive responsibilities too," he said. "I know almost everyone on the team and I know the head coach. That brings a certain level of comfort and also helps make it fun."

The head coach of Team USA is Stuart Sharp who served as head coach when Meyer-Crothers was part of the 2022 World Cup squad in Spain.

At Calvin, Meyer-Crothers is majoring in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science. He has an expected graduation date next May. In the future, he would like to go on to earn his master's degree in athletic training. He would also like to continue playing for Team USA.

"That's my big goal," said Meyer-Crothers of cementing a long-term spot with Team USA. "It's been a dream to represent my country through the game of soccer. I'd like to continue that dream as long as I can."