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Five Avon Old Farms Athletes Named League All-Stars

Five Avon Old Farms Athletes Named League All-Stars

AVON, Conn. – In the last week of the regular soccer season, five Avon Old Farms varsity soccer players received word that they would be playing in all-star tournaments as a result of their outstanding work on the field all fall.

"We have had one or two players participate in the tournaments in the past, but five is unprecedented at Avon," commented Head Coach Joe Martinez. "This recognition is really an acknowledgement of our overall strong year as a team. We had good players, good leaders and great teamwork."

Of the five players, Diego De Remedios and Mouhamed Ndiaye played in the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association (WNEPSSA) tournament Sunday, Nov. 13, at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, at which De Remedios scored a goal. Three more players, Max Gonzalez, Samuel Casad and Hunter Marshall will play in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) soccer tournament Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19-20, at Deerfield Academy, in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

When asked about being named a NEPSAC all-star, senior Diego De Remedios, of Madrid, Spain, reflected on what he's learned by playing soccer at Avon Old Farms.

"Avon has taught me how to compete on the field and off," said De Remedios. "People used to shut me down very easily, not because they were better players than me, which they could be, but because they competed harder than I did, and they wanted it more than I did. To truly compete is something that my coaches have taught me, and I will be forever thankful for that. Hard work always beats talent."

NEPSAC all-star Max Gonzalez, of Tolland, Conn., also shared what it feels like to get the opportunity to play in a tournament that he's only ever observed from the side-lines.

"It means a lot, not only being recognized to play at such a prestigious event, but to able to play alongside some of the best players in New England," said Gonzalez, also a senior at Avon Old Farms. "Playing at Avon has helped me become not only a better, but smarter soccer player. Coach Martinez, Coach Lee, Coach Cugell, Coach Cantello, my teammates, and the whole Avon Soccer program all contributed to why I was fortunate enough to be selected to play in this event."

After each regular-season game, league coaches are encouraged to nominate players from their team and their opponents' team for all-star games at the end of the season. An all-star committee makes the final decision on rosters for the all-star tournament.

"I nominated a few players, but even more were selected than I nominated, which is a huge compliment to our soccer program," said Coach Martinez. "And, one very exciting detail as a coach is that three of our all-star players are juniors. We have a very talented group that will hopefully allow us to progress even more next year.

Each all-star player agrees on one thing: they couldn't have done it without the support of parents, family, friends, coaches and teammates.

For more information on Avon Old Farms School's soccer program, please visit avonoldfarms.com.