Traverse City Bulldogs Win National Homeschool Soccer Championship
Local Homeschool News: Michigan
Hard work paid off for a northern Michigan homeschool soccer team. The Traverse City Bulldogs brought home the Division 4 title from the National Homeschool Soccer Championship in East Ridge, Tennessee, a suburb of Chattanooga (Traverse City Record-Eagle).
About 60 teams from across the country were accepted into the tournament’s four boys divisions. The Bulldogs opened with a 7-0 win over the Tippecanoe Tornadoes of Indiana and a 4-1 win over a team from Alabama. In bracket play they beat the MHEA Eagles of Memphis 2-1, then won the final 1-0 over Indiana’s ECHS Strikers. Finn Bond scored the only goal and finished the tournament with five.
The win capped a big turnaround. Not long ago, the Bulldogs went two full seasons without a win with a very young roster. They started winning last year and went 10-5-5 this regular season against area high school teams, including a stretch of seven straight shutouts.
“It’s the brotherhood and genuinely enjoying each other’s company. It’s not just soccer,” said captain Roman Sharp, who scored 23 goals this season and made the all-tournament team. Senior goalkeeper Thomas Scott said, “All the work really paid off.”
The 26 players come from Traverse City and nearby towns, including Kingsley, Mancelona, and Interlochen. Coach Eric Bond, in his fourth year, said, “It’s good to have an outlet for home schoolers to play sports.” The Bulldogs also offer volleyball, basketball, and baseball. For more, see our Michigan Homeschool Laws page.
Sources:
- James Cook, “‘Not just soccer’: TC Bulldogs win homeschool D4 national championship,” Traverse City Record-Eagle, October 29, 2026