Three players from the Manteca Rangers under-13 boys competitive team earned spots on the California Youth Soccer Association Olympic Development Program’s 1997 state team.

Alex Hernandez, Ramiro Ceja and Nate Edwards were selected to represent Cal-North. Seven players from the Rangers team in total were invited to the prestigious state tryouts.

During State evaluations, Nate led his district team in scoring with nine of the team’s 14 total goals over two weekends of competition.

Ryan Chaney and Austin Steinhart tried out for state positions with the 1996 State coaches. Competition was very tough as the age group was only looking for five or six new players with over 90 players for the state coaches to evaluate.

“All of the boys did an outstanding job, and I am very proud  of the hard work and dedication that all of the boys who tried out for the State and District team gave,” said Vince Meyer, head coach of the Rangers’ under-13 boys team.

Also responsible for the players’ success and development partnership is coach Ramiro Ceja and coach Julio Rangel. Both coach Ceja, and Rangel shared equal feelings of pride for all of the players efforts in the growth of their game.

In mid-2010, the Ranger players will additionally have the opportunity to attend the CYSA ODP Regional Camp to try and earn a playing position with the Regional Team, thus one day could lead to a playing opportunity in the U.S. Youth National Pool program.