Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League has produced host of area’s
top players
MORGAN HILL – With graduations in full swing and summer peeking just around the corner, it’s time for a culmination of sorts for the Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League.
The Morgan Hill-based OVYSL, having just completed its spring season and in the process of accepting signups for its fall season, capped its 22nd season with the ODP tryouts.
It may have been one of the most successful seasons ever for the OVYSL, which has steadily built a reputation as one of the top developmental leagues in Northern California.
Over the years, since its inception in 1982, the OVYSL has grown exponentially and now includes more than 1,500 kids, from Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy, aged 5-19 playing on about 132 competitive and recreational teams.
And, of those 1,500 players, a long list of them have gone on to enjoy success at the high school level and beyond.
Between the Live Oak and Gilroy high school boys and girls varsity soccer teams, the OVYSL has produced a total of 51 players who have helped lead their respective programs to two league titles, a CCS co-championship, and numerous all-league honors.
But there are several other out-of-area teams that also boast OVYSL products, who have transferred and continued to enjoy success.
In all, 65 high school varsity soccer players learned their skills in the OVYSL.
These players have been named to the 2003-04 OVYSL all-star squad by the league’s organizers.
“I think we’ve done a pretty good job bringing players along,” OVYSL President Jack Salvemini said.
At the top of the list are Live Oak’s Garrett Frechette, and Gilroy’s Everardo Diaz de Leon and Alfonso Motagalvan, who were recently selected for the State ODP team. (Live Oak’s Casey and Nick Mott were selected to the District II select team.)
Frechette, Diaz de Leon and Motagalvan all have a shot at making the U.S. National team.
Frechette and the Mott brothers were joined on the Live Oak varsity boys team by OVYSL products Ryan Alexander, Hassan and Hussein Abdullahi, AJ Battel, Eric Danner, Brian and Mike Place, Adam Power, Nick Rauschnot, Scott Giovanett, Trevor Kozacek, Rodney Spencer and Anthony Razouk.
Diaz de Leon and Motagalvan were joined on the league champion Gilroy varsity boys team by the OVYSL’s Ben Alcantar, Luis Becerra, Neil Martin, Ismael Nava, Jorge Plata, Jose Velasquez, Artemio Arteaga, Jamie Binowski, Javier Hernandez, Humberto Pineda, Gildardo Ramirez and Joel Vera.
The CCS co-champion and league champ Live Oak varsity girls team included OVYSL players Janae Pimentel (league MVP), Catriona Adam, Kristen Altamirano, Lorin Acker, Gabriela Balderas, Bridgette Bonfiglio, Ginelle Bongiorno, Megan Dunckel, Jenny Emick, Jaime Hickey, Cobbie Jones, Michelle McDonald, Allison Mutz, Allison Powers, Katie Renteria, Andrea Riolo, Karen Samaniego and Ashley Thomas.
The Gilroy varsity girls team included the OVYSL’s Amanda Bruce, Alysha Davis, Megan Olea and Nubia Diaz de Leon.
In addition, the West Catholic Athletic League champion Bellarmine boys team included OVYSL product Joey Davey, Presentation’s girls team included Davey’s sister Jaci, and the CCS champion Valley Christian girls team included the OVYSL’s Weynab Admassu, Ali Cheadle, Lena McNulty, Rachel Schweiger, Janelle Raymaker, Krista Stryker and Jessica Wrye. (Jaci Davey and Cheadle were also selected for the Under 17 State ODP team.)
Other OVYSL products who excelled in high school included St. Francis’ Matt Wheeler and Erin Lemmon, Valley Christian’s Joey Stryker and David Zvolanek, and Notre Dame Salinas’ Katie Bentz and Rebecca Ross.
