A Historic Run for Juneau Soccer
Three Juneau‑Douglas High School soccer players — Maddox Carroll, Sonny Mazon and Ayla Erickson — have been named to the United States Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Western Regional Team, a milestone that marks the first time athletes from Alaska have advanced this far in the prestigious ODP pathway.
Their selection follows years of competition at the state and regional levels, where each earned a place through intensive tryout camps and performances at the Region 4 ODP National Championships held in Mesa, Arizona, in January 2026. Club teammates Ibrahima Diouf and Imanol Vera Alvarado also attended the ODP camps in Salt Lake City, Utah, underscoring the depth of talent emerging from the Juneau soccer community.
Erickson is slated to travel to Orlando, Florida, in November 2026 to compete with the girls’ Western Regional squad, while Carroll and Mazon will represent the boys’ team in January 2027. Carroll’s journey includes a remarkable comeback from major knee surgery sustained in 2025, a setback he overcame through rigorous rehabilitation and relentless determination.
Both athletes spoke about the excitement of testing themselves against a national pool of peers. Erickson highlighted the opportunity to meet new teammates and raise her game, while Mazon and Carroll emphasized that dedication, resilience and a love for the sport have been the cornerstones of their development.
The ODP selection process blends state tournaments, regional camps and scouting by national coaches, ensuring that only the most promising players earn a spot on the Western Regional roster. The upcoming competitions will provide a critical platform for these young Alaskans to showcase their abilities on a broader stage.
For Juneau‑Douglas High School, the achievement signals a growing pipeline of elite talent and could inspire the next generation of local soccer players. As the team prepares for Orlando and the January camp, the community watches with pride, anticipating how this historic run will shape the future of soccer in Alaska.