After the final whistle blows at The Home Depot Center, the mad rush begins to get a few candid words from any of the Galaxy players. Win or loss, each player is susceptible to scrutiny or praise from the media. After FSN West finishes its usual sideline interview, all other reporters are waiting in the press conference room to hear from Galaxy head coach Steve Sampson and other players.
On Thursday, there was a press conference, but not with any of this year's Galaxy players. Instead, twenty campers from the Galaxy Youth Fantasy Camp were selected to answer a few questions from behind the podium in the stadium's press box. Along with other activities during the camp, the mock press conference was designed to help the kids experience the life of a professional soccer player. Campers were asked about their experience during the week in the camp and how their skill level has improved.
Chris Dalton, a 12-year-old from Palos Verdes, felt the scrimmages were an opportunity to try new positions.
"I normally play defense and I never get to play forward," Dalton said. "Here I get to try forward."
Corbin Ranche, a 13-year-old from McMinnville, Oregon, found new ways to improve his conditioning. "I've learned new stretches to make myself feel lighter," Ranche said.
Ranche traveled down the coast from Oregon in order to attend the camp. "It's been really fun. I'm really glad I came," he said.
The camp concludes on Friday with the final tournament games and awards ceremony.
Name: Dominic Dowell
Age: 9
Hometown: Pasadena
Position: Midfielder
Favorite Galaxy Player: Cobi Jones
Favorite Memory From Camp: Scrimmaging "It's the time to see what you've learned and show it off to other players."
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Learning more tricks and passing.
Preferred Number: 7
Name: Trenton Klatte
Age: 8
Hometown: Redondo Beach
Position: Midfielder
Favorite Galaxy Player: Kevin Hartman
Years Playing Goalkeeper: 3
Favorite Memory From Camp: Being able to play soccer.
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Left footed skills
Preferred Number: 22
Name: Simon Zawinul
Age: 9
Hometown: West Los Angeles
Position: Forward
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Favorite Memory From Camp: Coming back from a 2-goal deficit during a scrimmage.
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Passing Ability
Preferred Number: 10
Name: Collin Hossum
Age: 8
Hometown: Los Angeles
Position: Midfielder
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan "He has good footwork. He leads teams to the World Cup."
Favorite Memory From Camp: Learning from the coaches.
Meeting Galaxy Players: "It's been my dream to meet Cobi Jones and others, and it finally came true."
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Longer Passes
Preferred Number: 10
Name: Casey Ramirez
Age: 9
Hometown: Santa Monica
Position: Midfielder
Favorite Galaxy Player: Cobi Jones
Favorite Memory From Camp: Playing in the scrimmages.
Scouting Report as Free Agent: Good passing skills.
Name: Dario Amici
Age: 12
Hometown: Riverside
Position: Midfielder
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Favorite Memory From Camp: Scrimmaging "It's fun to play with your team."
Meeting Members of the Galaxy: "It's cool. You get to meet people who are famous and see their skills."
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Dribbling
Preferred Number: 9
Name: Dominic Cochrane
Age: 12
Hometown: South Torrance
Meeting a Galaxy Player: Met Herculez Gomez "He played with us a lot and helped us out."
Favorite Memory From Camp: Meeting new people
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Left foot ability
Preferred Number: 11
Name: Alex Stimpfl
Age: 11
Hometown: Redondo Beach
Position: Forward
Favorite Galaxy Player: Pando
Favorite Memory From Camp: Meeting the players and scrimmaging
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Using opposite foot.
Preferred Number: 7
Name: Chris Dalton
Age: 12
Hometown: Palos Verdes
Position: Fullback
Favorite Galaxy Player: Cobi Jones "He does lots of stuff that comes out of no where."
Favorite Memory From Camp: "The scrimmages because I normally play defense and I never get to play forward. Here I get to try forward."
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Better ball control on the field.
Preferred Number: 2
Name: Jason Mansfield
Age: 12
Hometown: Fontana
Position: Goalkeeper
Favorite Galaxy Player: Kevin Hartman "He's the one that inspired me to play Goalie. He can always stop the shot, and if he can't then it's because it was out of his reach."
Favorite Memory From Camp: Having lunch with the Galaxy.
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Reaching ability as a goalkeeper
Preferred Number: 6
Name: Jessica Flores
Age: 11
Hometown: Palos Verdes
Position: Forward
Favorite Galaxy Player: Herculez Gomez "He's nice. He comes out to sign autographs and he's good at bicycle kicks."
Favorite Memory From Camp: The coaches, drills and the people.
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Shooting
Preferred Number: 23 "It's David Beckham's number. He's good at everything."
Name: Marissa Valdez
Age: 13
Hometown: Hacienda Heights
Position: Defender
Favorite Galaxy Player: Ugo Ihemelu "He's so spirited and he never gives up."
Favorite Memory From Camp: Getting to know new people and learning new drills.
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Left foot ability
Preferred Number: 6
Name: Brittany Shoemaker
Age: 12
Hometown: Palos Verdes
Position: Forward
Favorite Galaxy Player: David Johnson
Favorite Memory From Camp: Hanging out with my friends.
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Trusting own teammates and passing.
Preferred Number: 13
Name: Meagan Westergaard
Age: 11
Hometown: Palos Verdes
Position: Right Fullback
Favorite Galaxy Player: David Johnson "He's a very strong midfielder and he's very nice. I got to eat lunch with him."
Favorite Memory From Camp: Being with friends and learning more about soccer.
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Long passing
Preferred Number: 77
Name: Natalie Behenna
Age: 11
Hometown: Palos Verdes
Position: Sweeper
Favorite Galaxy Player: Tyrone Marshall "He plays defense and I play defense."
Favorite Memory From Camp: Hanging out with friends and learning new skills
Years Playing Soccer: "I've been playing it for a really long time and my whole family plays soccer, so it's something we all do and have in common."
Preferred Number: 3
Name: Matt Mardesich
Age: 12
Hometown: San Pedro
Position: Center Midfielder
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Favorite Memory From Camp: "Learning more and experiencing what it's like to play as a professional soccer player."
Biggest Improvement During the Week: First touch
Being Coached by Former Galaxy Player Danny Pena: "It's nice because you know he knows what he's talking about so you can listen to him without worring." "To work hard. But, if you loose then it's alright."
Preferred Number: 10
Name: Jordan Korich
Age: 15
Hometown: Chino Hills
Position: Midfielder
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Favorite Memory From Camp: Learning how to improve skills
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Quickness with and without the ball
Preferred Number: 13
Name: Brennan Torres
Age: 14
Hometown: Yorba Linda
Position: Goalkeeper
Favorite Galaxy Player: Chris Albright "He's really energetic and fierce."
Favorite Memory From Camp: Goalkeeper training
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Cutting off the angles as a goalkeeper
Preferred Number: 14
Name: Corbin Ranche
Age: 13
Hometown: McMinnville, Oregon
Traveling to Attend the Camp: "It's been really fun. I'm really glad I came."
Position: Forward
Favorite Galaxy Player: Landon Donovan
Favorite Memory From Camp: It's all been fun.
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Speed and Agility "I've learned new stretches to make myself feel lighter."
Preferred Number: 11
Name: Simon Assaf
Age: 13
Hometown: Redlands
Position: Sweeper
Favorite Galaxy Player: Chris Albright "He's a defender and he shows that you can still assist on goals."
Favorite Memory From Camp: Scrimmaging
Biggest Improvement During the Week: Moving off the ball
Preferred Number: 10 "Pele and Ronaldinho wear that number."
