U.S. U14 BNT travel abroad

If throwing your child into the pool is a quick and effective method to help them learn to swim, then sending a group of kids, 14-years-old or under to Mexico is a quick and effective way to help them learn the international game.

Last month, head coach Manny Schellscheidt called up 36 kids to a U.S U14 Boys National Team Camp held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Alongside the eight days of training in high altitude, the boys also faced off against Atlas and Chivas de Guadalajara youth teams.

Several clubs had multiple players called from their respective youth teams. Cosmos Academy West, Minnesota Thunder, Carmel United, and Real So Cal, all had two or more players chosen for training camp.

Chester Castellaw and Benny Lorca were the two chosen from Real So Cal.

“They both had a good time, had a great experience, and were very happy with the opportunity,” Real So Cal Head Coach Ivan Alzate said.

Lorca is a natural defender, playing in the middle of the line for Real So Cal, but Schellscheidt used him more as a right back.

Castellaw had a different experience. Playing as a forward for Alzate’s team, he was switched and put in a defensive role for the U.S., like his teammate. His athleticism was seen by Schellschiedt as an opportunity to put Castellaw in the backline. However, he did have some opportunities to play both in the midfield and at the offensive third.

“When they came back, their confidence level was so much higher,” Alzate said about his kids. “They are both leaders with great attitudes, and haven’t allowed this experience to get into their heads.”

Roster by Position (Courtesy of U.S. Soccer):

GOALKEEPERS (4): Cameron Keys (Lehigh Valley United FC; Whitehall, Pa.), JT Marcinkowski (Mustangs FC; Alamo, Calif.), Parker Siegfried (Newark Area SA; Granville, Ohio), Justin Vom Steeg (Santa Barbara SC; Santa Barbara ,Calif.)

DEFENDERS (10): Billy Abdallah (Cosmos Academy West; Monterey Park, Calif.), Guillermo Bermudez (Albion SC; San Diego, Calif.), Peter Brown (Grand Rapids Crew; Walker, Mich.), Chester Castellaw (Real So Cal; Hidden Hills, Calif.), Malcolm Jones (Cosmos Academy West; Chino Hills, Calif.), Benny Lorca (Real So Cal; Oxnard, Calif.), Jean Orvil Jr (West Pines United; Miramar, Fla.), Erik Pritschau (PFC; Perry, Ohio), Tommy Redding (FC America Premier; Oviedo, Fla.), Max Stiegwardt (Minnesota Thunder; Maple Grove, Minn.)

MIDFIELDERS (16): Mukwelle Akale (Minnesota Thunder; Minneapolis, Minn.), Julian Castro (Concordia Royal; Lorain, Ohio), Jeremy Colvin (LAFC Houstonians; Houston, Texas), Coy Craft (Fusion FC; Glade Spring Va.), Collin Fernandez (Chicago Fire; Downer’s Grove, Ill.), Christopher Gomez (PDA; Jamison, Pa.), Cameron Lindley (Carmel United; Carmel, Ind.), Kostandin Moni (Crew Juniors; Grand Rapids, Mich.), Caleb Moore (Discoveries SC; Rock Hill, S.C.), Pablo Pelaez (Albion SC; San Diego, Calif.), Peter Schropp (Omaha FC; Omaha, Neb.), Shannon Seymour (Chicago Fire; Bourbonnais, Ill.), Benjamin Swanson (Columbus Crew; Grove City, Ohio), Alejandro Vergara (Cosmos Academy West; Long Beach, Calif.), David Villegas (Elk Grove Everton; Sacramento, Calif.), Sean Wilson (PDA; Bethlehem, Pa.)

FORWARDS (6): Malcolm Dixon (NY Red Bulls; Glenridge, N.J.), Stephen Elias (Beachside SC; Rye, N.Y.), Alexander Knox (Carmel United; Carmel, Ind.), Christian Lucatero (Houstonian FC; Pasadena, Texas), Amirgy Pineda (Fullerton Rangers; Santa Ana, Calif.), Dylan Smith (Fullerton Rangers; Anaheim Hills, Calif.)