9-year-old with precision foot headed for shootout regionals
If there weren’t witnesses to his perfect shooting day it would
have been hard to tell that Reynaldo Reyes had just advanced to the
regional level of the Northern State Soccer Shootout finals
After hitting 15-of-15 shots in the accuracy contest to win his
Under-10 age bracket, Reyes occupied his time by kicking dirt
clods, playing tag and chasing his friends.
9-year-old with precision foot headed for shootout regionals

If there weren’t witnesses to his perfect shooting day it would have been hard to tell that Reynaldo Reyes had just advanced to the regional level of the Northern State Soccer Shootout finals

After hitting 15-of-15 shots in the accuracy contest to win his Under-10 age bracket, Reyes occupied his time by kicking dirt clods, playing tag and chasing his friends.

Reyes was one of six Hollister youngsters who participated in Saturday’s Northern Soccer State Shootout finals at Andy Hardin Field sponsored by the Hollister Elks. But was the only one to come away with a regional berth.

“It was fun,” said the 9-year old Reyes. “I was nervous.”

Reyes did not show any jitters when it was his age group’s turn to shoot. The object was to hit as many of the three shots as they could into each of five makeshift goals, lined up side-by-side.

The first goal was five-feet wide and each shot was worth one point. The second goal was four-feet wide and worth four points and so on. The goals were made out of PVC piping.

Reyes was first up in his group and after one practice shot, he went to work.

Each shot was true and as Reyes neared the fifth and most difficult goal, the crowd clapped its approval.

Reyes, who hones his skills as a midfielder for the Hollister Tremors, did not disappoint. He hit his practice shot and the three shots that followed. Then he trotted to the sidelines and playfully kicked a soccer ball. Reyes finished with 45 points.

In a couple of weeks Reyes will travel to St. George, Utah, to participate in the Western regional. Success there will advance him to the nationals. Ultimately, the winner in each age bracket wins a college scholarship.

Hollister was well represented in the Northern State finals. Aside from Reyes, 7-year-old Adriana Anadon, 8-year-old Katherine Breger, 11-year-old Danielle Allemand, 12-year-old Andrew Lenoir and Jarred Quals, 13, also had great days. There were no qualifiers from Gilroy or Morgan Hill.

Anadon, Breger and Lenoir placed third while Quals and Allemand placed fifth and sixth respectively.

The task for the older Allemand, Lenoir and Quals, however, was a bit more difficult.

Instead of shooting into makeshift goals, the older kids had to shoot into a sectioned-off regulation goal.

The goal was divided into six parts. The corners of the upper section were worth five points and the upper-middle four points. The bottom-middle half of the goal was worth three points and the lower corners were worth two points each.

“It was hard,” said Lenoir. “I didn’t shoot for the upper corners. I tried to play it safe and see what I could get.”

Allemand said she thoroughly enjoyed her shootout experience.

“I just signed up for fun,” said Allemand. “I don’t even play soccer but it was great.”

Allemand and the rest of the participants qualified by winning the Hollister finals and then the divisional competition in Santa Clara.

“This is huge,” said Reid Doruff, who coordinated the event.

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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