SIMA 2023-24

Unlike any<br />

other.

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Luc<br />

Granitur ’21<br />

University of North Florida<br />

Without the discipline and life lessons I<br />

gained from my time with <strong>SIMA</strong>, I would not<br />

have experienced any of the opportunities I<br />

have had as a student or athlete. Every day<br />

being held to the standard of excellence by<br />

the coaches, my teammates, and teachers<br />

has pushed me to go further than I ever<br />

imagined I would.<br />

2 <strong>SIMA</strong>

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WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?<br />

The Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (<strong>SIMA</strong>) offers day and boarding students the<br />

next level of training in their soccer career.<br />

- Comprehensive academic and athletic training program<br />

- Holistic development<br />

- 100 percent college acceptance rate<br />

- More than 35 million dollars in collegiate scholarship dollars<br />

ACADEMICS<br />

Academics are the foundation at Montverde Academy. Students have the opportunity to<br />

work with teachers in an innovative, college preparatory setting. With an average 17 to1<br />

student-faculty ratio, classes are focused on cultivating critical-thinking skills and developing<br />

life-long knowledge while encouraging students to do their best in and out of the classroom.<br />

50+<br />

Alumni playing<br />

professionally<br />

- Distinguished Scholars program<br />

- SAC (Subject Area Concentration)<br />

- 31 AP courses<br />

- 20 Honors Classes<br />

- Dual Enrollment Program<br />

- APID (Advanced Placement International<br />

Diploma)<br />

450+<br />

Collegiate<br />

athletes<br />

35+<br />

MILLION<br />

in Scholarships<br />

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Shawn<br />

Smart ’22<br />

Clemson University<br />

<strong>SIMA</strong> has prepared me for anything<br />

I might face in the world, and how<br />

important the education aspect truly<br />

is. It’s so hard to make it in this<br />

world without a good education,<br />

and with <strong>SIMA</strong> you are able to do so<br />

while playing soccer at a high level.<br />

4 <strong>SIMA</strong>

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EXPERIENCE COUNTS<br />

Montverde Academy has made its mark in college athletics by establishing a reputation for producing elitelevel<br />

student athletes. The continual focus on both academics and athletics has been recognized throughout<br />

collegiate Institutions. Taking pride in true holistic development, the Montverde Academy Boys Soccer<br />

Program (<strong>SIMA</strong>) has been instrumental in preparing and assisting more than 450 student athletes and their<br />

families for collegiate scholarship opportunities at the NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA levels after graduation.<br />

Learn more about <strong>SIMA</strong><br />

In 2011, the Eagles obtained their first undefeated season in school history with a final overall record of 26<br />

wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. The success of the program continues today with an overall record of 223 wins,<br />

1 loss and 16 draws.<br />

<strong>SIMA</strong> Director and coach, Kevin Varnado, has been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the program<br />

over the past nine years. He began as a staff coach in 2014, and advanced to Director of College Placement<br />

in 2018. Coach Varnado became the director of the <strong>SIMA</strong> program in 2022. He brings over 20 years of<br />

experience at the collegiate, youth and scholastic level as a coach/administrator. Prior to his time at Montverde<br />

Academy, Kevin was a successful collegiate coach. Some of his successes include winning the 2008 Peach<br />

Belt Conference Coach of the Year, 2002 and 2008 PBC champion, 2008 PBC Tournament champion, and 2008<br />

NCAA Regional semifinalist. The 2008 and 2009 seasons saw Varnado’s FMU team ranked among the top 25<br />

in the United States. Coach Varnado holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” license.<br />

- <strong>SIMA</strong> student-athletes average GPA is 3.5<br />

- NCAA and NAIA collegiate scholarship opportunities<br />

- Alumni play in LaLiga, MLS, USL, and internationally<br />

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UNPARALLELED ATHLETICS<br />

From world-class facilities to elite-level coaching, <strong>SIMA</strong> provides a professional training environment for any passionate athlete<br />

with the desire to work hard and improve. Students registered with the soccer institute will complete their athletic specific<br />

training in the morning or afternoon in addition to their full academic workload in the classroom on a daily basis at Montverde<br />

Academy. Academic standards must be met in order to participate in the soccer institute as the combination and balance<br />

of academics and athletics must always be maintained. Success will only be measured by development with the end result<br />

residing in an opportunity to play at a higher level and continue to make your passion a career.<br />

- 44,000 square foot athletic field house<br />

- 4,400 square foot strength and<br />

conditioning performance center<br />

- 25 meter aquatic practice facility<br />

- 17 acre collegiate-level<br />

athletic complex<br />

- Comprehensive sports medicine program<br />

- 30 acres of practice fields<br />

- Cruyff Court<br />

6 <strong>SIMA</strong>

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Santa<br />

Ihara ’20<br />

Duke University<br />

My experience at <strong>SIMA</strong> has been a turning point<br />

in my life and I am where I am today because of<br />

it. I not only got to play at the high level of <strong>SIMA</strong>,<br />

they worked with me and gave me advice about<br />

my career after graduation. The <strong>SIMA</strong> identity is<br />

engraved in my mind and will be essential for my<br />

development in the future.<br />

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FUNDAMENTALS OF <strong>SIMA</strong><br />

<strong>SIMA</strong> was founded on the idea of creating an elite training program where all members are<br />

accepted as equals. At <strong>SIMA</strong>, we try to create an environment of competitive alliance on and off<br />

the field.<br />

5<br />

Training days<br />

per week<br />

Approximately<br />

208<br />

Training<br />

opportunities<br />

1:1<br />

College soccer<br />

scholarship<br />

counseling<br />

All student-athletes are challenged to believe in their dreams and our role is to lead them to their<br />

goal through intense training, sacrifice, dedication, and teaching the game of soccer as a lifestyle.<br />

<strong>SIMA</strong> provides the exact forum necessary for success at any level.<br />

ELITE LEVEL TRAINING<br />

- Training at least five days per week from August to May<br />

- Professional-level coaches<br />

- Competitive matches year-round against local, regional, and national competition<br />

- Specialized and designed strength and conditioning sessions at least twice a week<br />

- Transportation, meals, and accommodation for domestic events and friendly matches on and<br />

off campus<br />

- Half-day academic schedule<br />

- Position specific training<br />

- Sports Performance profile<br />

- All club/registration/ and<br />

tournament fees included<br />

- Nike ® equipment training<br />

package<br />

8 <strong>SIMA</strong>

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GET SEEN<br />

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES<br />

- College soccer scholarship counseling<br />

- Visit coordination<br />

- <strong>SIMA</strong> College Showcase<br />

- <strong>SIMA</strong> Friendlies<br />

- NCAA recruiting process seminar for student-athletes<br />

- All club registration/tournament fees<br />

Learn more about <strong>SIMA</strong><br />

More than 35 million in scholarship dollars have been awarded to student-athletes<br />

from the <strong>SIMA</strong> program since 2011.<br />

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HOUSING<br />

Living on campus is a great way for students to engage in the full college<br />

preparatory experience and make life-long friends.<br />

Campus activities, weekend trips, and events designed especially for<br />

student residents along with caring dorm-parents, a diverse student body,<br />

and a beautiful 130-acre campus help students to transition from “at<br />

home” to “on your own.”<br />

- <strong>24</strong>/7 security<br />

- Live-in dorm parents<br />

- Common areas with study and activity areas<br />

- On-site laundry facilities<br />

10 <strong>SIMA</strong>

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FACILITIES AND EVENTS<br />

PRACTICE FIELDS<br />

<strong>SIMA</strong> student-athletes train on 30+ acres of fields made up of<br />

beautifully manicured Bermuda grass and professional synthetic turf.<br />

<strong>SIMA</strong> FRIENDLIES<br />

The <strong>SIMA</strong> Friendlies features elite high school student-athletes in a<br />

showcase setting for collegiate programs throughout the country<br />

and the soccer world at large. This multi-day event assembles top<br />

club teams to participate in a series of competitive matches to<br />

promote aspiring student-athletes.<br />

4,400<br />

SQUARE FOOT<br />

FITNESS CENTER<br />

- 8 fully outfitted power racks with a TRX<br />

suspension system<br />

- Olympic hex bars and adjustable benches<br />

- Indoor turf training space<br />

- Keiser six-pack system<br />

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Diego Campos ’14<br />

Degefors IF<br />

Allsvenskan<br />

Costa Rica NT<br />

12 <strong>SIMA</strong><br />

Ali Fadal ’21<br />

Valencia CF<br />

LaLiga<br />

Mamadou Mbacke Fall ’20<br />

Los Angeles FC<br />

Major League Soccer<br />

Hamady Diop ’20<br />

Charlotte FC<br />

Major League Soccer

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING<br />

The Strength and Conditioning Program at <strong>SIMA</strong> goes well beyond the weight room. Our goal is to work<br />

with student-athletes as soon as they arrive on campus to assess their individual physical needs as well as<br />

provide performance testing to know how to best prepare them for their sport.<br />

PROGRAM GOALS<br />

- Improve speed, agility, flexibility, overall strength, technique and form<br />

- Extensive weight room training<br />

- Develop skills in the areas including nutrition, mobility, hydration, heat acclimation, recovery, and sleep<br />

Maximize your potential<br />

The strength and conditioning program mentally and physically prepares players for collegiate athletics as<br />

well as long, healthy athletic careers through training and education.<br />

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John<br />

Atem Kato ’21<br />

Penn State University<br />

<strong>SIMA</strong> has helped me in many<br />

ways, not only as a soccer player.<br />

When I was a student-athlete there,<br />

I learned discipline. I learned what a<br />

competitive mindset really means, and<br />

so many life lessons that I use at the<br />

University of Portland both on and off the<br />

field. I’ll forever be grateful to the <strong>SIMA</strong><br />

program for what it has meant to me.<br />

14 14 <strong>SIMA</strong> <strong>SIMA</strong>

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APPLY NOW<br />

Montverde Academy offers continuous enrollment. We admit students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all<br />

the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to students at the Academy. Montverde Academy does not<br />

discriminate on the basis of disability, race, national, and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies,<br />

admission policies, athletic, and other school-administered programs.<br />

Steps to Apply<br />

- To apply online, click on admissions at montverde.org<br />

- For a list of required documents by grade and/or student type visit:<br />

application process at montverde.org<br />

- Submit standardized testing<br />

- Grades 6-10 submit:<br />

- Secondary Admission Test (SSAT) or<br />

- PSAT<br />

- ISEE<br />

- International applicants grades 6-10 must submit one of the following:<br />

- Duolingo English Test (DET)<br />

- TOEFL<br />

- IELTS<br />

- Grades 11-12 submit SAT or ACT scores<br />

montverde.org<br />

Schedule your tour today!<br />

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17235 Seventh Street, Montverde, Florida 34756<br />

montverde.org | mvasports.com | mvasima.com | 407.469.2561<br />

October 2022