I'm trying to find help for a special soccer talent that I've had the pleasure of knowing for a number of years now. Manny Nicasio has been invited to play on a high level soccer team but is struggling to afford it. This young man has the skills to go very far in this game. Problem is, in America, soccer is pay-to-play and Manny's family has no money. His mom cleans hotel rooms and picks brush on the weekends and his step dad is a shade tree mechanic. This boy needs help to get where he's destined to go. Can you help? I've been told the story has already been seen by over 3000 people and, if everyone who reads it shares it, and everyone who reads it donates $1, Manny will reach his goal in no time. unfortunately, so far donations have come in but, slowly. If you want to share the story on facebook, here's the page with the original story:
https://www.facebook.com/SouthMasonY...cer/?pnref=lhc
If you've been to the South Mason Soccer Park at all over the past 8 years or so, chances are you've seen 15 year old Manny Nicasio there. It seems like Manny is always there, whether his team is there or not. He has been one of SMYSC's most dedicated players since the day he started playing for the club. He's trained with his teams, he's trained with teams that weren't his, making those players better in the process, and he has helped at numerous practices for the smaller U8-U10 teams, including the Dragons many times, and done all of it with a consistent smile that lights up the entire park. His presence on the field is electric. He inspires kids of all ages to play to their potential and beyond.
This dedication to soccer has started to bear fruit for Manny. Over the summer, he began training with Washington Premier Football Club in Puyallup. He was working out with their U15 "A" team, currently the #3 ranked team in the state at all levels of competition. His initial contact with them was just to see where he matched up and to train a bit. Within just a couple short months he was offered, and accepted, a position on the team and is now their starting center midfielder. This is not easy to accomplish. Only the best and most dedicated players earn that coveted position on this team. Manny has played for them since then in their league games and is lined up to play in a couple of tournaments and the Far West Regional League after the first of the year.
Most of the kids that play for Washington Premier, especially their "A" team, end up going on to the Sounders Academy team or college on substantial scholarships. It is one of the highest ranked and most respected clubs in the state and on the entire west coast. The games and tournaments in which they play are regularly watched by professional and college scouts and their coaches have the highest level of licensing and experience available in this country. For a player to be good enough to play soccer for Washington Premier means they are often good enough to make soccer a profession or at the minimum, earn most or all of a college education from playing the sport. These are opportunities not afforded to just any player. These are certainly not opportunities commonly found in Shelton.
All of this exposure and coaching comes at a price though. Most of the kids playing at Washington Premier pay around $7000 per year, which also includes travel costs. Knowing the economy here in Shelton, we all know that it is impossibly out of reach for a lot of players here. One also has to take into account the 110 mile round trip 3 days a week to train in Puyallup and a lot of games in Seattle, Everett, Lynwood, Bellevue, etc. It's easy to see that, while this experience is invaluable to a soccer player that can play at that level, it is also a major time and financial commitment, and that's just the local aspect of things.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, Manny will accompany his team to a college showcase tournament in Las Vegas, NV. There is another college showcase tournament in Phoenix, AZ in February. Washington Premier plays in a few of these college showcase tournaments each year. Attending these tournaments are professional and Division 1 college scouts looking for the best of the best young players.
Depending on how they finish in the Far West Regional League in January, they will have a Regional Tournament next year somewhere in California. Beyond that is Nationals, which this team participated in last year in Indianapolis, IN.
Each of these traveling tournaments cost each player hundreds of dollars each for airfare, hotel, food, etc. Again though, the scouts that go to these games can have a huge impact on the future of these players and that makes these tournaments important.
Manny will have 4 more eligible years to play at Washington Premier, assuming he can make the financial commitment. Clearly he has been able to live up to the talent level expected and the time dedication he has shown says he's willing to do whatever it takes to make it in that highly competitive environment.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help at We will be trying to put on fund raisers in the coming months as well to ensure Manny can continue to play soccer at the highest level.
We are of the feeling that the best soccer opportunities should be given to the best players, not just the ones that can afford it and we hope you agree. Unfortunately, all too often that's not how it works. Please consider assisting us in ensuring that Manny Nicasio, one of Shelton's brightest stars, one of SMYSC's most popular soccer players and one of the biggest success stories of SMYSC, has a chance to shine as long as possible on the large stage that has been set for him for the next 4 years.
Manny really is worth every penny donated. Because of this opportunity, he has made major life changes, including dedicating himself to his studies and is now carrying a 3.7 GPA, distancing himself from the kids who'd otherwise drag him down, and he's giving up every available minute that would normally spent hanging out with friends to train and work for this amazing opportunity he has earned. He is a kid very deserving of this chance.
Thank you in advance for your donation and please feel free to share this story with anyone and everyone!
https://www.facebook.com/SouthMasonY...cer/?pnref=lhc
If you've been to the South Mason Soccer Park at all over the past 8 years or so, chances are you've seen 15 year old Manny Nicasio there. It seems like Manny is always there, whether his team is there or not. He has been one of SMYSC's most dedicated players since the day he started playing for the club. He's trained with his teams, he's trained with teams that weren't his, making those players better in the process, and he has helped at numerous practices for the smaller U8-U10 teams, including the Dragons many times, and done all of it with a consistent smile that lights up the entire park. His presence on the field is electric. He inspires kids of all ages to play to their potential and beyond.
This dedication to soccer has started to bear fruit for Manny. Over the summer, he began training with Washington Premier Football Club in Puyallup. He was working out with their U15 "A" team, currently the #3 ranked team in the state at all levels of competition. His initial contact with them was just to see where he matched up and to train a bit. Within just a couple short months he was offered, and accepted, a position on the team and is now their starting center midfielder. This is not easy to accomplish. Only the best and most dedicated players earn that coveted position on this team. Manny has played for them since then in their league games and is lined up to play in a couple of tournaments and the Far West Regional League after the first of the year.
Most of the kids that play for Washington Premier, especially their "A" team, end up going on to the Sounders Academy team or college on substantial scholarships. It is one of the highest ranked and most respected clubs in the state and on the entire west coast. The games and tournaments in which they play are regularly watched by professional and college scouts and their coaches have the highest level of licensing and experience available in this country. For a player to be good enough to play soccer for Washington Premier means they are often good enough to make soccer a profession or at the minimum, earn most or all of a college education from playing the sport. These are opportunities not afforded to just any player. These are certainly not opportunities commonly found in Shelton.
All of this exposure and coaching comes at a price though. Most of the kids playing at Washington Premier pay around $7000 per year, which also includes travel costs. Knowing the economy here in Shelton, we all know that it is impossibly out of reach for a lot of players here. One also has to take into account the 110 mile round trip 3 days a week to train in Puyallup and a lot of games in Seattle, Everett, Lynwood, Bellevue, etc. It's easy to see that, while this experience is invaluable to a soccer player that can play at that level, it is also a major time and financial commitment, and that's just the local aspect of things.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, Manny will accompany his team to a college showcase tournament in Las Vegas, NV. There is another college showcase tournament in Phoenix, AZ in February. Washington Premier plays in a few of these college showcase tournaments each year. Attending these tournaments are professional and Division 1 college scouts looking for the best of the best young players.
Depending on how they finish in the Far West Regional League in January, they will have a Regional Tournament next year somewhere in California. Beyond that is Nationals, which this team participated in last year in Indianapolis, IN.
Each of these traveling tournaments cost each player hundreds of dollars each for airfare, hotel, food, etc. Again though, the scouts that go to these games can have a huge impact on the future of these players and that makes these tournaments important.
Manny will have 4 more eligible years to play at Washington Premier, assuming he can make the financial commitment. Clearly he has been able to live up to the talent level expected and the time dedication he has shown says he's willing to do whatever it takes to make it in that highly competitive environment.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help at We will be trying to put on fund raisers in the coming months as well to ensure Manny can continue to play soccer at the highest level.
We are of the feeling that the best soccer opportunities should be given to the best players, not just the ones that can afford it and we hope you agree. Unfortunately, all too often that's not how it works. Please consider assisting us in ensuring that Manny Nicasio, one of Shelton's brightest stars, one of SMYSC's most popular soccer players and one of the biggest success stories of SMYSC, has a chance to shine as long as possible on the large stage that has been set for him for the next 4 years.
Manny really is worth every penny donated. Because of this opportunity, he has made major life changes, including dedicating himself to his studies and is now carrying a 3.7 GPA, distancing himself from the kids who'd otherwise drag him down, and he's giving up every available minute that would normally spent hanging out with friends to train and work for this amazing opportunity he has earned. He is a kid very deserving of this chance.
Thank you in advance for your donation and please feel free to share this story with anyone and everyone!
