By Dick Sparrer
Summer vacation is a time for play.
But while some kids were playing at Great America and others were playing video games, Joey Randesi of Saratoga was playing soccer--very serious soccer.
Randesi, a star at Redwood Middle School and Saratoga High, played his way into the national training camp in the Olympic development program as one of the 36 players to survive team cuts in hopes of making the 20-player under-15 national team.
"He's accomplished a lot so far," said Pedro Torres, coach at Redwood.
Randesi played for Saratoga as a freshman, then returned to club soccer following the high-school season. He made the district and state teams, then was one of 36 players remaining at the western regional level.
"He's a very coachable, good kid," said Torres, who along with John Smiley coached Randesi at the club level. "He's a team player. He's such a good player, he makes everybody rise a lot."
Randesi starred at forward in club play and at Redwood, but he switched to fullback on the state team.
"He's a complete player," Torres added. "He can play different positions. He's definitely a talent."
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, September 4, 1996.
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