» REPUBLIC SEEKING NEXT ROSTER PLAYER
Over the weekend, Sacramento Republic FC held an open tryout for the seventh year in a row, seeking its next roster player from the Sacramento area.
The club has held the tryout every year since its inception in 2014. The tryout took place Saturday and Sunday at Cosumnes River College, the home of team practices and where the club’s academy teams play games. Saturday’s tryout was split into three separate sessions, with the final session involving players from the U17-U19 academy teams, which are controlled by Sac Republic.
Among those observing and evaluating the talent was Sac Republic general manager Todd Dunivant and new head coach Mark Briggs.
“It’s important for us to look at the local talent,” Dunivant told The Bee. “We’ve recently signed two of our homegrown players. This is something that’s important for us to represent Sacramento and there’s a lot of good talent here in Sacramento and the greater region. It’s a good opportunity for everyone to come out and see it all in one showcase.”
As noted by Dunivant, the team signed two players, Mario
Penagos and Hayden Sargis, on Jan. 15 from its academy. Both are from Northern California and joined the academy when it opened in 2015, showing that the club is committed to grooming and elevating local talent.
Tryouts have led to Sac Republic stalwarts
The open tryout allowed for at least one player to be selected to training camp with a chance to sign a professional contract. In the last two years the tryout was held, three players were chosen to advance to training camp with the team.
Previous players to attend the tryout and later become a member of the team include Emrah Klimenta, Max Alvarez, Mackenzie Pridham and Elliot Hord. Klimenta is one of the most decorated players in the club’s short history, as he leads the club in all-time minutes played (8,969) and starts (98).
“We want our club to be able to represent Sacramento and Northern California in the best way we can,” Dunivant said. “Part of that is the character of our team and the character of our club. We’re a communitybased club at the heart of it. (It) only makes sense to have local players who represent us.”
Briggs is entering his first year as head coach, however, he has two years of coaching experience in the USL and served as Sac Republic FC’s academy director last season. He went into the tryout over the weekend with an open mindset.
“You have to be open to recognizing talent from all over,” Briggs said. “This gives us a great chance to have an eye on people that we never usually would, or we’d never get the opportunity to see. So I think it’s valuable for us as a club and for me and my staff to try and put the best product on the field.”
The tryouts weren’t just for fun, as participants had to pay $215 each to register, with an additional $15 in ticketing fees, for their shot at playing in front of Briggs and Dunivant. Players came from all over the region with an opportunity at a professional contract on the line, or simply just to get their name out there.
For Ryan Curtis, he gave it a go to make his name more known in the Northern California soccer community. Curtis, 19, is a sophomore goalkeeper at Sacramento State but couldn’t pass on the opportunity.
“I’m just trying to get my name out there,” Curtis said. “I’m still young, not even 20 yet. I still have two more years of college. I just want to get my name out there, maybe play local, but do what I can do right now.”
The tryout also presented Curtis, who is from Modesto, with the chance to match up against players who may have been bigger and older.
“Just playing with different talents,” said Curtis about his favorite part of the tryout. “Getting used to playing with people that are a little bit older and bigger. Or just people that have gotten that chance, you know, maybe are still looking for one more push. Or those young guys that are still looking for their opportunity.”
David Villegas, 22, was also among the 125 participants and came in with experience after competing for USA youth nationals teams and playing collegiately at UCLA and San Diego State.
“I know a couple of guys on the coaching staff and just wanted to come to hang out with them,” Villegas said. “Hopefully, (I will) get a shot with the first team and just grow the (soccer) culture in Sacramento.”
Villegas, who plays center midfielder, comes from a soccer family in Davis. His younger sister Mia, 19, plays at the University of San Francisco and was a member of the Mexican National Team in the 2019 World Cup.