Submitted photos – Maia Hales, left, and Ella Tollefson

By Ray Hamill — A pair of younger sisters are setting new standards within their families when it comes to Olympic Development Program soccer.

Following in their older sisters’ footsteps, Eureka High juniors Maia Hales and Ella Tollefson were recently chosen to compete for the Cal North 17U ODP team at the Far West Regional Championships in Arizona, and both enjoyed the occasion a little more than anticipated.

They not only got to compete alongside and against some of the top young players in the Western United States, but the Cal North team won all five of its games and took home the championship.

“It was really fun,” Hales said. “Beforehand with our team we didn’t really know how it was going to go. We hadn’t played together and we only had two or three practices as a group, and going out there we were a little nervous.

“And after the first game (a 7-1 win over Oregon), we realized, hey, we can do this.”

Hales played every minute of every game at the eight-team tournament, including the championship showdown against Utah, which Cal North won on a penalty shootout.

Tollesfon also featured heavily in attacking midfield and says it was a memorable experience.

“Playing with them was amazing because everyone is super competitive and really good,” she said. “It was nice to play at a high level like that.”

Hales, whose older sister Brynn played for the Cal North team in 2020 and is now playing for Southern Oregon University, also enjoyed the higher level of competition.

“It was definitely a lot quicker and a lot faster than high school soccer,” she said. “You definitely have to step up your game.”

Maia Hales (back row, far left) and Ella Tollefson (front row, third from left), with their Cal North Teammates in Arizona.

The travel squad of 18 is chosen from the practice roster of 30, which got together once a month in the three months leading up to the tournament.

Even more impressively, Maia Hales was named as one of two team captains and had two assists in the five games, a good return for a defender.

“I was able to represent Humboldt that way, which was really exciting and a really great experience,” she said.

Tollefson also followed in her older sister Aquene’s footsteps.

The older sister played for the Cal North ODP team alongside Brynn Hales and is now playing for Thomas University, an NAIA school in Georgia.

Ella Tollefson says the overall experience helped her grow as a player.

“We worked together as a team and we were able to win all five of our games,” she said. “We had a slide show and presentation and scouting before and after every game, and that really helped our team.”

The high school teammates only found out they had been chosen for the traveling roster less than two weeks before the tournament, and neither was sure what to expect from their new team, although they both relished the occasion.

“Getting to go out there and even just try out and train with players who are one step ahead of you and quicker, it made me more determined to become a better player and to play at that level,” Maia Hales said.

The two Eureka girls weren’t the only local players to be chosen for the ODP team in their age group.

Arcata sophomore Izaiah Grosveld also made the trip in his fifth year with the program as a member of the boys 16U Cal North team.

Submitted photos – Izaiah Grosveld, right, in Arizona

“It’s been pretty amazing playing with the ODP and being able to compete with some of the top players in the Western Region,” he said.

Grosveld and his Cal North team finished 2-1-1 in tournament play and placed second in their bracket.

And the Tigers standout believes his game will benefit from the experience.

“I think it really taught me a lot,” the midfielder said. “And it continues to help grow my game.”

Grosveld has one more year of eligibility with the program, while Ella and Maia will move on after this year.

All three, however, could be back in action with their teams on Memorial weekend, when they travel to compete in a Portland tournament.

A few elite players from the Cal North teams will also be selected to compete on the ODP regional team.