The 2005 Galaxy Youth Fantasy Camped wrapped up Friday with final matches and a closing ceremony. The camp, in its inaugural year, gave kids ages 8-15 training and exposure to the life of a professional soccer player.
The closing ceremony concluded the five-day adventure that included such activities as watching a Galaxy training session, lunch with the Galaxy players, a mock press conference, sideline interviews, and locker room player photos.</p>
Each camper remembered special moments throughout the week. For some, improving their game was an important part of the week. For others, meeting the Galaxy players was a once in a lifetime opportunity.</p>
Gabriela Barrera, a 12-year-old from Los Angeles, believes bettering her dribbling was her biggest improvement of the week.</p>
"I used to dribble far away from me, but now I dribble really close to my legs," Barrera said.</p>
Barrera also savored the opportunity to see the Galaxy up close. "It was tight because I actually saw them up close, instead of on TV."</p>
Alex Farr, an 11-year-old from Santa Monica, saw first-hand a skills demonstration from his favorite Galaxy player, Mamba Chisoni.</p>
"He's a winger and I really respect the way he plays. I think he's a good example for all of us," Farr said.</p>
Farr is originally from London, England, and keeps his roots close to heart by admitting that international superstar David Beckham is his other.</p>
The camp's instructors included former Galaxy player Danny Peña and USSF Region IV Coach Ralph Perez. Guest appearances came from the Galaxy players such as: Herculez Gomez, Joseph Ngwenya, Mamba Chisoni, Alan Gordon, Ben Benditson, Michael Enfield and Tyrone Marshall.</p>
Name: Michael Escobedo
Age: 10
Hometown: Palos Verdes
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Memorable Moment of Camp: Everything
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Offensive side steps and drag backs.
Preferred Number: 10
Name: Andre Suarez
Age: 8
Hometown: Harbor City
Favorite Galaxy Player: Cobi Jones
Memorable Moment of Camp: Learning about scrissor and bicycle kicks.
Preferred Number: 13
Name: Zach Cochrane
Age: 9
Hometown: Torrance
Favorite Galaxy Player: Cobi Jones
Memorable Moment of Camp: Meeting the players and watching them train.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Dribbling
Preferred Number: 13
Name: Jake Felix
Age: 9
Hometown: Corona
Favorite Galaxy Player: Cobi Jones "He's always been an important part of the Galaxy."
Memorable Moment of Camp: Watching the Galaxy train.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Learning more tricks such as stutter steps.
Preferred Number: 13
Name: Sammy Adida
Age: 8
Favorite Galaxy Player: Cobi Jones
Memorable Moment of Camp: Learning new moves.
Preferred Number: 6 "Pele and Ronaldinho wear it."
Name: Cameron Farr
Age: 8
Hometown: Los Angeles
Favorite Galaxy Player: All of them.
Memorable Moment of Camp: Improving skills.
Preferred Number: 16
Favorite National Team: England
Name: Alex Pluta
Age: 10
Hometown: Irvine
Favorite Galaxy Player: Kevin Hartman
Memorable Moment of Camp: Having lots of fun and learning.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Movement with the ball.
Preferred Number: 9
Name: Jarvis Goode
Age: 11
Hometown: Torrance
Favorite Galaxy Player: Kevin Hartman
Memorable Moment of Camp: Meeting new people and scrimmaging.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Defense
Preferred Number: 3
Name: Matt Arellano
Age: 10
Hometown: Torrance
Favorite Galaxy Player: Tyrone Marshall "He's plays for the Jamaican national team and I think he's a very good player."
Speaking with Tyrone Marshall: "I asked him who was the best player he had ever marked. He said Ronaldo."
Memorable Moment of Camp: Learning new skills.
Preferred Number: 99
Name: Alex Farr
Age: 11
Birthplace: London, England
Hometown: Santa Monica
Favorite Galaxy Player: Mamba Chisoni "He's a winger and I really respect the way he plays. I think he's a good example."
Favorite National Team: England
Favorite International Player: David Beckham "I like the way he takes free kicks and he crosses the ball very well."
Preferred Number: 7 "It was David Beckham's old number when he played for Manchester United."
Name: Brandon Itzep
Age: 11
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Memorable Moment of Camp: "When I first saw Cobi Jones walk past me. It was like a miracle. I never thought I would see him up close."
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Passing and shooting "I wasn't passing much before I came here, but now I've really improved."
Preferred Number: 10
Name: Rebecca Pacun
Age: 13
Hometown: Irvine
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Memorable Moment of Camp: Meeting the players and having lunch with them.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Goalkeeper skills.
Preferred Number: 57
Name: Jenna Schroeder
Age: 10
Hometown: Glendale
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Memorable Moment of Camp: Scrimmaging
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Shooting "Now I have confidence."
Preferred Number: 6
Name: Gabriela Barrera
Age: 12
Hometown: Los Angeles
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan "He knows what he's doing and he scores a lot."
Memorable Moment of Camp: Improving skills such as shooting.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Dribbing "I used to dribble far away from me, but now I dribble really close to my legs."
Meeting the Galaxy Players in Person: "It was tight because I actually saw them up close, instead of on TV."
Preferred Number: 10 "It was my dad's number when he played soccer."
Name: Kristina Hughes
Age: 12
Hometown: Rancho Palos Verdes
Favorite Galaxy Player: David Johnson
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Executing moves quicker.
Preferred Number: 9 "It's Mia Hamm's number."
Name: Lauren Rule
Age: 13
Hometown: Newport Beach
Favorite Galaxy Player: Herculez Gomez
Memorable Moment of Camp: Making new friends and shooting better.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Shooting
Preferred Number: 7
Name: Cody Christian
Age: 12
Hometown: Torrance
Favorite Galaxy Player: Joseph Ngwenya "I like the way he takes on player and he's not always liked by everyone else."
Memorable Moment of Camp: Meeting the players.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: First touch
Preferred Number: 13
Name: Joseph Marin
Age: 12
Hometown: Torrance
Favorite Galaxy Player: Herculez Gomez "He's a great goal scorer and he has good footwork."
Memorable Moment of Camp: Learning new moves and scoring goals as a forward.
Herculez Gomez's Guest Appearance: "It was great to see how he works with the ball and to have him show us some of his moves."
Preferred Number: 5 "My whole family has always been 5, so I want to keep carrying it."
Name: Jacob Kirk
Age: 15
Hometown: Westminister
Meeting the Galaxy Players: "It was pretty cool. I got to learn lots of stuff from them. Herculez Gomez was cool. He was the best out of all of them."
Memorable Moment of Camp: Ball control "I'm able to confuse the defender more now."
Preferred Number: 13 or 18
Name: Kimberly Knefel
Age: 13
Hometown: Orange
Favorite Galaxy Player: Kevin Hartman
Memorable Moment of Camp: Being here with my friends and having a good time.
Biggest Improvement During Camp: Goalkeeper skills
Preferred Number: 8
