Dominic Bolender

Our Athlete of the Week is Dominic Bolender. Last weekend, this Castro Valley High School Junior played for the East All-Star Team in the Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Games in Phoenix, Arizona. The three-day event saw 230 teams from the U15-U18/19 age groups in action.

The matches feature top soccer players from teams that play in Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) events. Players for the National Selection were chosen through a combination of scouting and recommendations based on performances over the past several months. 

Bolender was picked to represent the Association Football Club (AFC) to play for the East Team on November 15. He then played with his AFC teammates the rest of the weekend. AFC is a new club formed via a partnership between Castro Valley Soccer Club, Montclair Soccer Club, and Piedmont Soccer Club. The combined club participates in the ECNL program. 

Bolender is also a center defensive midfielder and one of the team captains on the Castro Valley High School Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team.

“I’m very proud of this young man,” said Dominic’s coach Dave Barrett. “I have had the pleasure of watching him grow within the game since he started.”