Local booters qualify for state team
GILROY – Gilroy’s Alfonso Motagalvan and Everardo Diaz de Leon have always stood out during soccer try-outs.
Morgan Hill’s Garrett Frechette and Anthony Avalos also have shined through whenever it came to working out for a soccer team.
But when the talented foursome began try-outs for the Northern California state soccer squad, they were in a field of 65 of the best players in the area, making it that much harder to rise above the rest.
After the first weekend of tryouts, the field was cut to 35 players and the local players were still in the mix. The following weekend, the final selections were made, comprised of the top 22 field players and three goaltenders.
Once again, the four locals had made the cut – becoming part of the state team. While Avalos, Diaz de Leon and Motagalvan made the U17 state squad, Frechette was named to the U16 state team.
“It’s a real big deal,” said Gilroy High head coach Brian Hall, who’s coached three of the four players either at school or on his club team. “It opens a lot of other doors. You get the chance to play against different styles of play. You get a chance to be exposed to the best players around, and that leads to making you a better player also.”
Being among the elite players in Northern California also is a great resume builder for these locals, who all hope to move on to the next level and earn athletic scholarships to college.
“Coaches look at these guys and they say, ‘This player’s good enough to make the top 22 players in the state, so they must have some qualities that are attractive to the college level,'” Hall said. “To that standpoint, it’s big-time.”
After each try-out session, the state coaches would gather the players and, in front of everyone, name the lucky ones who made the cut. It was a nerve-racking experience for each of them, as the coaches went through the names alphabetically.
The first name called out was Avalos – a sophomore at Live Oak High School who has been on the state squad for the last four seasons, starting at U14.
“I was the first that they called. I was just crossing my fingers,” Avalos said. “It actually got harder. Every year, there’s a bunch of people that come out that are just as good as everybody else. They just never did the program, but they are just awesome players. It was just as nerve-racking this time as the first time.”
Avalos, a midfielder, has cherished his experiences with the state team because of the confidence it has brought to his game.
“If you don’t have confidence, you can’t really play to your ability,” he said.
“The strength that he brings is he’s got exceptional technical ability,” said Hall of Avalos. “He just brings a fantastic understanding of the game. You always look to players who want the ball, and he’s one of those guys.”
As the list of names continued for the U17 team, Diaz de Leon was the next to go. After not making the squad last season, Diaz de Leon was nervous every step of the way this year.
“It made me work a lot harder. Playing club and everything and listening to those guys and hearing them talk about state made me want to be on it and be one of those guys,” Diaz de Leon said. “It means a lot being out there with those players.”
The junior striker for the Gilroy High soccer team is a pure goal-scorer, as was witnessed throughout the Mustangs’ regular-season and run into the Central Coast Section Playoffs.
“He’s very strong on the ball. His touch is phenomenal. He can work his way out of small spaces with the ball and then accelerate,” said Hall of Diaz de Leon. “He’s unpredictable that way. He doesn’t look like he’s going to be that fast, but he’s deceptively quick.”
Still on the hot seat was Motagalvan, who anxiously awaited for his name to be called so he could join his teammates of the state U17 squad.
“The coach kind of gave it away to us because he put me with returning players that had been there before. I was in an environment that the only way I wasn’t going to make it was if I played really bad,” Motagalvan said. “I had people I could play with, people who had made it before, and they made me look even better. I just went with the flow.”
The sophomore midfielder for the Gilroy High varsity squad is a field general in the middle. He was the axle that made the Mustangs go throughout the season, using crisp passes to generate the offensive attack.
“He’s great on both sides of the ball, attacking and defending. He’s the field general,” said Hall of Motagalvan. “He’s got that will to win, that determination to make everyone around him better. He’s also got a sweet touch on the ball and excellent distribution.”
At another location, Frechette was hoping his name would be called for the final cut of the U16 state team. It was, and his mission was accomplished.
“I think they called off four Fs, and I didn’t think I was going to make it. They finally got it on the last one,” Frechette said. “Last year, I didn’t make it so I worked really hard over the season to try to make it this year. It means a lot to me as a player.”
The versatile sophomore can play every position on the field and was standout on the Live Oak High varsity squad this season.
“Over the last year, he’s improved phenomenally – not only his ability as a player, but his leadership,” said Hall of Frechette. “He’s a left-footed guy, but one of his strong abilities is he can play with both feet. … He’s got a huge future ahead of him, too.”
Although the four local kickers have made their respective age division state squad, that does not mean they will be able to compete with the team.
Only the top 18 of the 22 players will be selected for the travel team. For each tournament, the state coaches pick the very best of the best, and they all hope to get that chance.
“It’s basically like a tryout every practice,” Avalos said. “Basically, you know when you are practicing if you are in the top or not by where the coaches have you. There are no set spots because everyone is awesome.”
Diaz de Leon welcomes the opportunity as well.
“You have to show what you can do on the field on a daily basis. You have to try your best every single time you are out there,” Diaz de Leon said. “It would be nice. Traveling – who wouldn’t want to do that – and playing soccer, something that you love.”
The big event for the state players is the NIKE Tournament over Memorial Day Weekend in Oregon. The travel team will spend four days and three nights battling against other elite teams.
“This is another avenue for college,” Motagalvan said. “I’m doing what I love to do and, hopefully, I make it to the next step.”
The players will also get a chance to play at the Regional Camp, where they are put in another, more skilled pool. The ones who make that cut get a chance to play on the regional team and travel all over the world. The others are sent home.
“You have to eat right. You have to do everything right because you want to have an extra edge over everybody else,” Avalos said. “Everybody is competing. Everybody supports each other. They are happy for each other, but they all want it.”
It’s who wants it more that determines who moves on and who does not.
“The first year I didn’t really know any people, but over the years I’ve met so many people and it’s just awesome,” Avalos said. “The atmosphere is just awesome.”
