and hopefully some new hardware -- from his trip to Colorado, where he will compete with the Dynamo's U-17 team at the MLS Youth Cup July 3-10. The 6-foot, 160-pounder will be competing against older players, but he will not be overmatched, according to Dynamo Director of Youth Development James Clarkson.
"Conner is showing the necessary character and technique to make the step up to a higher level of play," Clarkson stated. "We have been extremely pleased with his development in the academy. This is his reward for the hard work and dedication that he has given us over the past year."
Mowery has made significant strides in his field play at the Academy, and he also earned a starting spot on the varsity team at The Woodlands High School. As the only freshman on the roster, the squad's center midfielder scored the game-winner in his first varsity contest, a victory that contributed to the program's first district championship in more than 10 years.
Mowery credits the structure of the Dynamo Academy practices for the noticeable advancement in his technique, distribution and his ability to judge the game's flow.
"At academy practices, I usually get to see everything differently," the freshman stated. "They use different drills and things that I really have never seen before. In high school and club, I'm using the same thing over again. With the academy, I see things that I have never seen before, so I really have to adjust to the drills, which really makes my game better."
With a significant period of growth remaining, Mowery will continually enhance his abilities on the field by training with top coaches and battling with older players from choice programs. This experience in the Dynamo Academy has fueled Mowery's dreams of playing at the professional level, but the young defender knows he has to constantly put in the effort to make it a reality.
"The program is going to help me get to where I want to be and hopefully make the first team one day. Being in this program is the way I am going to make it," Mowery said. "If I just keep on pushing myself and getting into the older teams and making each team that I want to make, hopefully I will make it there one day."
Mowery's determination has driven him through the Dynamo system from Dynamo Elite Camp invitee to MLS Youth Cup participant, starting a journey he hopes will conclude with the Dynamo first team. Given the steps already taken, there is reason to believe Mowery's dream may one day become his final destination.
