March 1, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – Kansas City Comets News Release
The Kansas City Comets will celebrate Retro Night on Saturday when they host historical rival St. Louis Ambush at Cable Dahmer Arena. It will be the 164th all-time I-70 Series matchup in the regular season.
If there is anyone who knows something about the I-70 Series, it is Comets defender Chad Vandegriffe. The 6-1 St. Louis native has competed in the rivalry at various levels, from youth and high school to college and professional ranks. He now sees the rivalry from Kansas City’s perspective and relishes the opportunities against the Ambush.
“It’s intense and always has been,” Vandegriffe commented on the rivalry. “I see it as Missouri bragging rights! Fans traveling from city to city. I love it! It’s great for our league.”
Vandegriffe is the latest to make the switch as the two soccer cities of Kansas City and St. Louis have had plenty of crossover over the years. In the first Comets era in the MISL, they had 10 players from St. Louis including Gary Amlong, Mark Frederickson and Kevin Handlan. The Comets eventually turned to STL native Pat McBride for a midseason coaching switch.
I-70 switches have been common throughout the various iterations of the Kansas City Comets and Attack as well as the St. Louis Steamers, Storm and Ambush. In 2024, the rivalry is still rich in I-70 crossovers. The Ambush have five former Comets players while Vandegriffe is among the three ex-Ambush players representing the Comets.
Before his career playing professional indoor soccer, Vandegriffe grew up in Florissant, MO, a northern suburb of St. Louis. He won a high school state championship as a junior at Chaminade in 2006, knocking off Kansas City power Rockhurst in the semifinals and won three club state titles with St. Louis Scott Gallagher in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
He played two years for the historic St. Louis University soccer program and was named to the Conference All-Tournament Team in 2010 and All-Conference in 2011. Vandegriffe’s first taste of playing in the I-70 Series at the professional level came in 2013 as a rookie playing with the Ambush. He was on the receiving end of some lopsided scorelines in his three seasons with the Ambush and also played in the USL for St. Louis FC, where he played all 90 minutes against Sporting KC in a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup loss.
Vandegriffe had the opportunity to learn from many St. Louis indoor professionals, including Daryl Doran, Tony Glavin, Jamie…