Brittany Randle sent a text message to her high-school coach after being named to the North Carolina Girls Soccer Camp All-Star Team on June 29.
"We did demos for the entire camp," said Randle, who will be entering the 12th grade at Ceres High School on August 11. "On the second to last day, we played the staff in a game."
Around 400 girls, aged 11-18, attended the prestigious camp, held at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, June 27-July 1. Just 40 participants were named to the camp's all-star team.
"There was a lot of really good players there," Randle said. "Some of those girls were only 13."
The all-star exhibition match was held in the afternoon on June 30.
Randle played for Anson Dorrance, University of North Carolina women's soccer head coach.
Dorrance led the Tar Heels to their 18th national championship in 2003. No other school in the country has won as many as two titles.
"That was really cool," Randle said. "That's like the head honcho of everything."
Randle wouldn't have been able to attend the camp without assistance from her mom and dad.
"I've always wanted to go there and play soccer because they're the No. 1 team in the country," Randle said. "I've been asking my parents for a couple of years."
The camp cost $515. Each participant received a ball, two t-shirts, three meals a day, a place to stay and transportation to and from the airport.
"It was definitely worth it," Randle said.
"It was something that I will never forget. Everyone was so supportive."
Randle left for North Carolina on June 26 and returned home on July 1.
"I was so scared and intimidated going there," Randle said. "Once I got there, I felt more comfortable."
Campers were trained in the proper techniques of shooting, heading, servicing, dribbling, defending, passing and trapping. Current and former top collegiate players and top level youth coaches from across the country provided instruction.
"Everyday, we would have a couple of games," said Randle, who stayed in the dorms on campus and had to get up at 6:45 every morning. "Then we would work on basic ball skills and tricks. They actually showed us a bunch of routines that the North Carolina women's soccer team uses."
Randle enjoyed the experience.
The Santa Clara soccer camp, which she participated in a few years ago, was just as fun but not as competitive and enlightening
"At North Carolina, I felt like I learned something," Randle said. "I learned how to interact with other people."
Randle is currently playing for the Turlock United Cruisers, a Class I 18-and-under competitive soccer club. She joined the team in May.
"I tried out for the team and made it," she said.
The Cruisers will start competing in tournaments in August.
"We don't have any weak links on the team," Randle said. "Everyone is talented."
Randle will start at the varsity level at Ceres High School for the fourth year in a row and serve as captain for the third consecutive year in 2005. She earned second-team, all-Central California Conference honors as a sophomore and was an honorable-mention selection as a junior. Randle's main position is stopper. She also plays sweeper and goalie.
"She's been one of the players that has really brought Ceres High School into being competitive at the CCC level," said Ceres coach Randy Cerny.
Ceres won eight games last season and six times in 2002-2003. The Bulldogs won just once in 2001-2002.
Randle wants to continue to play soccer after she graduates from high school.
"I'm looking at Fresno State," she said. "They have a good psychology program and still have a Division I soccer team."
Said Cerny: "I think she has a great future ahead of her whether soccer plays into that or not. I would definitely like to see her play soccer at the collegiate level. I think she can do it." - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
"We did demos for the entire camp," said Randle, who will be entering the 12th grade at Ceres High School on August 11. "On the second to last day, we played the staff in a game."
Around 400 girls, aged 11-18, attended the prestigious camp, held at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, June 27-July 1. Just 40 participants were named to the camp's all-star team.
"There was a lot of really good players there," Randle said. "Some of those girls were only 13."
The all-star exhibition match was held in the afternoon on June 30.
Randle played for Anson Dorrance, University of North Carolina women's soccer head coach.
Dorrance led the Tar Heels to their 18th national championship in 2003. No other school in the country has won as many as two titles.
"That was really cool," Randle said. "That's like the head honcho of everything."
Randle wouldn't have been able to attend the camp without assistance from her mom and dad.
"I've always wanted to go there and play soccer because they're the No. 1 team in the country," Randle said. "I've been asking my parents for a couple of years."
The camp cost $515. Each participant received a ball, two t-shirts, three meals a day, a place to stay and transportation to and from the airport.
"It was definitely worth it," Randle said.
"It was something that I will never forget. Everyone was so supportive."
Randle left for North Carolina on June 26 and returned home on July 1.
"I was so scared and intimidated going there," Randle said. "Once I got there, I felt more comfortable."
Campers were trained in the proper techniques of shooting, heading, servicing, dribbling, defending, passing and trapping. Current and former top collegiate players and top level youth coaches from across the country provided instruction.
"Everyday, we would have a couple of games," said Randle, who stayed in the dorms on campus and had to get up at 6:45 every morning. "Then we would work on basic ball skills and tricks. They actually showed us a bunch of routines that the North Carolina women's soccer team uses."
Randle enjoyed the experience.
The Santa Clara soccer camp, which she participated in a few years ago, was just as fun but not as competitive and enlightening
"At North Carolina, I felt like I learned something," Randle said. "I learned how to interact with other people."
Randle is currently playing for the Turlock United Cruisers, a Class I 18-and-under competitive soccer club. She joined the team in May.
"I tried out for the team and made it," she said.
The Cruisers will start competing in tournaments in August.
"We don't have any weak links on the team," Randle said. "Everyone is talented."
Randle will start at the varsity level at Ceres High School for the fourth year in a row and serve as captain for the third consecutive year in 2005. She earned second-team, all-Central California Conference honors as a sophomore and was an honorable-mention selection as a junior. Randle's main position is stopper. She also plays sweeper and goalie.
"She's been one of the players that has really brought Ceres High School into being competitive at the CCC level," said Ceres coach Randy Cerny.
Ceres won eight games last season and six times in 2002-2003. The Bulldogs won just once in 2001-2002.
Randle wants to continue to play soccer after she graduates from high school.
"I'm looking at Fresno State," she said. "They have a good psychology program and still have a Division I soccer team."
Said Cerny: "I think she has a great future ahead of her whether soccer plays into that or not. I would definitely like to see her play soccer at the collegiate level. I think she can do it." - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
