GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin senior Jonah Meyer-Crothers has a busy and exciting stretch of soccer in front of him.

A native of Sylvania, Ohio, Meyer-Crothers played in a rivalry game with his Calvin men's soccer teammates Tuesday night at Hope College. This morning, the Sylvania Northview High School graduate is set to fly to South America to prep for the IFCPF Copa America from Oct. 8-18 in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Meyer-Crothers has been named to the 14-man U.S. Men's Cerebral Palsy National Team that will compete in the tournament. Team USA is scheduled to open play on October 14 against Argentina. The game will serve as the team's opening pool play match.

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 will leave the Calvin men's soccer team for international duty and stay with the team as long as it remains in the Copa America competition. While abroad, he plans to continue his Calvin studies online.

"I'm very thankful to Coach Souders and to my (Calvin) professors for extending grace to me so that I can have this opportunity," said Meyer-Crothers. "To have a chance again to represent your country is an amazing honor. I plan to go in with God as my guide. There is pressure with an opportunity like this, but I am here for it and with God's help, I am ready for the challenge."

Once joining Team USA, Meyer-Crothers will readjust to a new style of play as the competition is a seven player aside format.  He is listed as a midfielder on the team roster. "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.

His Calvin coach Ryan Souders is excited for the opportunity lies ahead for Meyer-Crothers. "We are excited that Jonah has been selected to the national team," said Souders. "It is always a huge honor to represent your country. We wish Jonah all the best as he represents the Stars and Stripes abroad."

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."