Newton's Fuentes has busy summer on soccer pitch
Aug. 13—Berg Middle School student Isaac Fuentes has had quite the past few months on the soccer pitch.
With the hopes of one day playing in the MLS, Fuentes took several trips starting in March to showcase his soccer talent.
"If you don't believe you're the best, you will never achieve what you were capable of," Isaac Fuentes said about his soccer experiences so far.
Fuentes spent three days in Seattle with the Seattle Sounders Academy in March, went to Minnesota for a four-day showcase with the Minnesota United Football Club in May and was invited to visit the Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Minnesota, too.
"He was asked to go because he stood out in games," said Isaac's father Breydi Fuentes. "It's not very common to get invites from coaches from MLS futbol clubs. The end goal is for him to play for an MLS team someday and be at the professional level."
Isaac has been playing soccer since he was 3 years old. He was born in Bakersfield, California, and played for Bakersfield United before moving to Newton.
He has played for NASA, UFA, Des Moines Menace Soccer, Genesis FC, FC United and currently is part of the Vision Soccer Academy (VSARush), which is based out of Waukee/West Des Moines.
With so many options on the table, Isaac Fuentes and his family have a big decision to make soon.
The family recently turned down financial aid worth $58,000 to attend Shattuck-St. Mary's, which is a boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota. Breydi Fuentes said the cost difference was just too much.
Breydi Fuentes said this likely will be Isaac's final year at VSARush as he decides between the Seattle Sounders Academy, Minnesota United FC or the Olympic Development Program, which he tried out for in Rockville, Illinois, on July 16.
"The Sounders want us to come out for more evaluations and we are still waiting to be called for the Olympic Development Program, which is a path to the USA National team," Breydi Fuentes said.
Isaac Fuentes, who does not have a favorite MLS team but cheers for the Spanish professional football club Real Madrid, was given an all-expense paid trip to Seattle for a three-day showcase with the Sounders in May. He registered a pair of hat tricks in his first two matches before playing up a level with the U15 team on the final day.
He spent four days training with the Minnesota United FC U15 team in March. He was two years younger than the best players in that region.
"They reached back out to us and want him to train with the U15 team," Breydi Fuentes said.
While a 12-year-old likely will never play in the MLS, Isaac can be a part of the MLS Next, which is the league underneath MLS.
"Isaac would not be allowed to play high school soccer if he's selected to play in the MLS Next league," Breydi Fuentes said. "He would have to travel to different states often. He would have to do online schooling and practice three or four times a day."
