Four local boys make Olympic program cut1 min read

By
Jeff Bear
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Four youth soccer players from the Verde Valley — Jesus Estudillo, Jose Aviles, Francisco Hernandez and Tanner Young — attended the Olympic Developing Program  tryouts at Casa Grande in August along with Estudantez Clube do Futebol coaches Manny Arias and Juan Carlos Aguilar.

Soccer clubs from all over Arizona bring their top players to the tryouts, which ultimately determine who will represent the state in national tournaments.

A total of 65 boys tried out in the 115 degree Casa Grande weather and the four Verde Valley boys were among 40 who made the cut for the next tryout in December.

“I’m a happy coach to say that all four made it to the next level,” said Juan Carlos Aguilar, the Estudantez Clube do Futebol U16 boys coach. “I’m very excited for the upcoming soccer season, especially with coach Manny [Arias] here.

“The boys have been training hard four days a week with the goal of bringing home gold back to our Sedona community.”

For the full story, please see the Friday, Sept. 6, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.

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Jeff Bear

Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.

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Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.