Soccer player Chloe Castaneda ’15 was one of the six midfielders chosen to attend the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team’s week long training camp in Lakeland Ranch, Fl.

Casteneda, who helped the girls’ soccer team earn a Mission League championship and a number one ranking among high school teams on the West Coast in 2012, is currently on the preliminary roster and is accompanied by 25 other girls all selected by U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow.

The girls are from throughout the United States and their ages range from 14 to 16.

“Snow called me and told me I was going to be asked to come in and that I would have to be confident and try my hardest and see where it takes me,” Castaneda said.

At the camp, the girls spend their days scrimmaging and training. Castaneda says that she “loves the intense environment.”

“Everyone is really encouraging,” Casteneda said. “During practice, if the coach sees that we are not encouraging each other, then he will run us.”

The climate around the camp is very similar to that of Jamaica’s, which is where the 2013 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship will be held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 9. A total of 18 girls will be selected to attend the championship, which means they have also qualified for the National Team.

“When you come in [to the camp] you don’t play the position that you usually play,” Casteneda said. “They train you to work in another area of the field. It’s more trying to play for the team and what the team needs.”

Castaneda’s position on her club team, LA Premier FC, is attacking center midfielder. At the camp, the coaches have adjusted her to play holding midfielder, which she says is not a drastic change.

Because of the camp, Castaneda will be absent from school and has to keep up with her work while she is gone. She finds it hard to get work done even though there is a study hall, but she says her teachers are being very understanding of the situation.