When Garrett Frechette was just a little guy playing for an U6
soccer team in San Jose, opposing coaches used to ask his
grandfather, and coach, not to play him because he was so much
better than the other kids.
“He used to just take the ball and dribble around and score all
the time,” Garrett’s mother Laurie said. “He’s always been real
special in soccer.” A decade after dominating the little kids’
leagues, the high-scoring 17-year-old with the blazing speed and
dazzling skills is still way b
etter than the other kids. Only now he’s graduated to much
bigger and better levels of play.
When Garrett Frechette was just a little guy playing for an U6 soccer team in San Jose, opposing coaches used to ask his grandfather, and coach, not to play him because he was so much better than the other kids.
“He used to just take the ball and dribble around and score all the time,” Garrett’s mother Laurie said. “He’s always been real special in soccer.”
A decade after dominating the little kids’ leagues, the high-scoring 17-year-old with the blazing speed and dazzling skills is still way better than the other kids. Only now he’s graduated to much bigger and better levels of play.
This summer, the Morgan Hill resident was selected to the U.S. Olympic Development Program’s Region IV team, which represents the top players in the Western U.S. from Colorado to California and from Alaska to New Mexico.
The Live Oak High standout, who is entering his senior year, will now compete with the Region IV team against the other three U.S. regional teams, with the top players earning a spot on the U.S. National team.
For Frechette, who had previously made the U.S. ODP district and state teams, the opportunity to compete at such a high level of play is the chance of a lifetime.
“This is one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me,” he said. “It’s a goal I’ve been working toward for a long time. I never thought I could play at this level. Now that I have (made it to the regional level), it should make me a better player, and give me more options for college and maybe even the pros.
“And, I’ll have the chance to try out for the national team.”
Frechette will travel extensively with the regional squad, visiting Florida in December, Las Vegas in January, Dallas in March and Argentina next summer.
And, he’ll be getting plenty of exposure along the way, as coaches from the top levels of soccer play scout the regional talents.
But Frechette has already had the opportunity to play on the road, traveling all over the U.S. for his club soccer teams, past and present.
In fact, Frechette just returned from a trip to England with his current club team, Santa Clara Sporting. While there, Frechette and his teammates played teams from Tottenham and Watford, squads of mostly teenage players that Frechette likened to minor league teams in U.S. sports.
But the chance to compete against English soccer clubs was an eye-opener for the local teen.
“They’re very developed, strong and fast,” Frechette said. “The level of play over there is different than anything I’ve ever experienced. The English style of play is more complex, more aggressive.”
Frechette’s father, Chris, said playing against English club teams was “a once-in-a-lifetime chance” for his son.
Frechette comes from a soccer-playing family. Chris is a member of the Morgan Hill-based Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League’s board of directors. And, Laurie still plays soccer for a third division club in the Bay Area Women’s Soccer League. In fact, Chris and Laurie first met on a soccer field. And, Garrett’s brother Dylan also plays soccer, for the U14 OVYSL Eagles.
Chris coached his son as he was coming up through the OVYSL ranks with the Top Dawgs.
Then, as a teen, Frechette moved up to the OVYSL Arsenal, coached by FIFA World Cup referee and Gilroy High coach Brian Hall.
When Frechette got to Live Oak High as a freshman, it didn’t take him long to make an impression. By the time he was a sophomore playing varsity, he was drawing rave reviews from Acorn head coach Tony Goble.
Last season, as a junior, Frechette was one of the top scorers in the area, and helped lead the Acorn boys to a Tri-County Athletic League title.
And, Frechette’s scintillating offensive forays were a catalyst for Live Oak’s run all the way to the Central Coast Section semifinals. Only a loss to Alisal on penalty kicks in the semis kept the Acorns from a shot at the title. He earned all-TCAL Junior of the Year and all-CCS first team honors for his efforts last season.
Entering his senior year, Frechette is already drawing attention from several in-state university programs, including Santa Clara, St. Mary’s, UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara, as well as several from out of state.
For now, Santa Clara and St. Mary’s have the inside track, Frechette said, because “they’re closer to home.”
But before he worries about which top-notch college program to pick he said he’s looking forward to the start of the high school soccer season this winter.
Frechette is one of several key returning players, including seniors Anthony Avalos and Nick Mott, as well as several underclassmen who gained valuable experience last season.
“I can’t wait for this season,” Frechette said. “I think we’re going to do very well.”
