December 1, 2021 – Andrew Hasamear, 10, a fifth grader at Dorris Intermediate School (DIS), recently participated in the Real Madrid Experience where he lived, trained and played soccer in Madrid for 10 days with other players chosen from around the US.
Andrew was invited to be a part of the program after attending the 2020 Real Madrid Soccer Camp, but due to the pandemic, the trip was postponed from April 2021 to November 2021. The trip, sponsored by Avanza Sports and the Real Madrid Foundation, was from Nov. 20-Nov. 29, 2021.
Immediately upon arrival in Madrid, Andrew was taken to a dormitory where he stayed with the other members of his team, Team Modric, which included eight boys and one girl (ages 7-10). Two other age groups had players up 16-years-old. The players were pushed to their limits with training every morning at the Real Madrid Training Facility. They participated in friendly games with Spanish youth soccer teams in the evenings. The players’ families (who stayed in separate hotels from the players) were able to watch two of the training sessions and every friendly game. Team Modric won two of the four games played and had the best record of all the age groups from the experience.
As part of the experience, the players and their families were also given tours of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium of Real Madrid CF, and Wanda Stadium of Atletico Madrid. The players also had the chance to see a Real Madrid Women’s’ game. On the last day, the players and their families were able to see a Real Madrid CF v Sevilla FC game, which ended in a victory for Real Madrid. Hala Madrid!
Andrew’s mom (Jenn Hasamear), dad (Tim Hasamear) and older brother, Nick Hasamear, 12, also a DIS student, travelled to Madrid to be a part of this experience too.