Trio of players earn spots at ODP soccer camp

SANDPOINT — Three Sandpoint Strikers players have been invited to the summer Region IV Olympic Development Program regional camp at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.

Jezza Hutto, Tyler Moore and Riley Walkington were identified through participation at the ODP Regional Championships in Jaunary and the Region IV Subregional event in March.

The Sandpoint kids will measure themselves against the best players in the region and play in front of the best coaches in the region, including Nate Shotts, Region IV Head Coach, and Brandi Chastain, scorer of the famous fifth penalty kick in the U. S. Women’s National Team 1999 World Cup shootout victory.

In addition to the tryout experience, the players will be housed in dormitory halls at Linfield College, engage in lectures on sports psychology and performance enhancement, strength and condition, rest, recovery, and nutrition, with some of the brightest minds in sport science.

“I’ve learned new things and met amazing people — just what I hoped to do,” said Jezza Hutto. “The commitment and extra training was 100 percent worth it because I get something out of every district training and even more out of regional tournaments or camps. ODP has been an amazing experience and I think it will continue to be one.”

Three other Strikers players participate in the Idaho ODP program, in Abby Edwards, Curtis Hauck and Yeo Yarnell.

Moore and the 2001 boys attend camp on June 30-July 4, 2015, while Hutto, Walkington, and the 2001 girls will attend on July 8-12, 2015.