The U.S. Under-14 Boys National Team is in Guadalajara, Mexico this week training and competing against local Mexican youth clubs such as Atlas and Chivas de Guadalajara. Coach Manny Schellscheidt, a long-time member of the U.S. Soccer coaching staff, invited a group of 36 players on the trip, including US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Region II member Julian Castro as well as 31 other US Youth Soccer ODP players. 

In just under a year, Castro has moved from the Ohio North US Youth Soccer ODP team to the U.S. National team, while also traveling and playing throughout the U.S. and Europe. 

"It's a lot of fun. There are a lot of sights you can see," Castro said. "Not a lot of people get that chance. You get to play with a lot of players who have different skills. It makes you better."

This past Thanksgiving, Castro competed for the US Youth Soccer ODP Region II team at the US Youth Soccer ODP Thanksgiving Interregional event at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. Castro impressed National Team coaches by scoring a goal in a 2-1 win over Region III and helped his Region II team draw 0-0 with the U.S. National Team Navy squad.

"(US Youth Soccer ODP) can really get you somewhere if you join the program."

The Lorain, Ohio resident has had success with his club team as well. Playing for Concordia Royal of Cleveland, Castro helped lead them to the 2010 US Youth Soccer Ohio North State Championship, where they went on to finish second in their group at the US Youth Soccer Region II Championships, and also a first place finish in their division of the Fall 2010 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League.