The18’s mission to uncover America’s Sleeper Striker shall continue this fall! We’re in search of the hidden talents on college campuses who may not play D1 soccer but definitely have the vertical and precision to turn heads.
“Grown in America: Play Fueled by Peanuts” is a nationwide campaign that shines a spotlight on the rising stars of soccer – young athletes from across the country who are putting in the work, powering their performance, and doing it all with fuel that’s as American as the game is global: peanuts.
As part of The18’s campus tour with the National Peanut Board, we’re connecting with college players to hear their stories, get their takes on the sport, and find out how they stay game-day ready.
“Grown in America: Play Fueled by Peanuts” is a nationwide campaign that shines a spotlight on the rising stars of soccer – young athletes from across the country who are putting in the work, powering their performance, and doing it all with fuel that’s as American as the game is global: peanuts.
As part of The18’s campus tour with the National Peanut Board, we’re connecting with college players to hear their stories, get their takes on the sport, and find out how they stay game-day ready.
What does dependable look like in college soccer? Try a fifth-year defender who walked on, earned a starting spot, battled back from injury, and keeps moving forward.
That’s UMass veteran Matt Fordham — and his fuel is as reliable as his 1v1 defending: PB&Js since grade school, peanut butter on toast with banana before training, and on-the-go snacks when recovery can’t wait.
Welcome to the Grown in America Fuel Zone, where performance, recovery, and fun meet – and where American-grown peanuts power the work behind the highlights.
UMass senior goalkeeper Alex Geczy is built for the brave stuff: organizing a back line, throwing himself at shots, and staying locked in for 90. His routine is simple and smart – keep game day meals consistent and reach for the easy fuel that travels: peanut butter on a bagel when time is tight, Fuel Box snacks when the session runs long.
Welcome to the Grown in America Fuel Zone — the soccer-meets-snack experience built to show how American-grown peanuts fuel performance, recovery, and fun.
In partnership with the National Peanut Board, The18 kicked off the Grown in America: Play Fueled by Peanuts campaign at UMass. Our mission? Find the next Sleeper Striker hiding in plain sight on campus — and have a blast doing it.
The18 is on a mission to uncover America’s Sleeper Striker — the hidden talents on college campuses who may not play D1 soccer but definitely have the vertical and precision to turn heads.
This spring, that search launched at UMass, where The18 partnered with the National Peanut Board as part of its broader Health Nut Club campaign — a nationwide effort celebrating the role peanuts play in fueling healthy, active lifestyles.
Check out the highlights from this interview with soccer superstar Cade Cowell and Olympic gold medal wrestler Helen Maroulis. The18 had the chance to sit down with Cade and Helen to learn more about their journeys, their preparations for upcoming competitions, and how they are gearing up to achieve peak performance – including how they use peanuts and peanut butter as part of their diets.
What do an Olympic wrestler and a pro footballer have in common? We decided to find out when we brought together soccer star Cade Cowell and gold medal wrestler Helen Maroulis to swap sports and see how they'd fare outside their comfort zones. Cade, known for his speed and agility on the soccer field, grappled with the demands of wrestling, while Helen, a decorated wrestler, navigated the technical and physical challenges of soccer.
American soccer star Cade Cowell adds peanuts to his favorite smoothie recipe. You can give it a try with this recipe – and check out Cade as he takes on gold medal wrestler Helen Maroulis in our "United in Sport" series, presented by the National Peanut Board.