East Jay Elementary

We are bursting with pride as we cheer on our very own 3rd grader, Manuel Hernandez, who is on his way to Madrid, Spain today!

Last summer, Manuel attended a soccer camp hosted by the Real Madrid Foundation. While there was a chance he could be selected for something big, his family could only hope… and then it happened!

Manuel received the official invitation from Real Madrid Foundation and Kaptiva Sports to represent Team USA in the RMD World Challenge — a global youth tournament where he will compete in the 10-year-old category, taking place April 10-19, 2025.

Manuel has been passionate about soccer since he was 5 years old, starting at Boomer Soccer at the community center and later playing for the Celina Shipyard soccer league. His journey has just begun, but this opportunity is a huge step toward his dream of one day playing professionally — especially for his all-time favorite team: Real Madrid!

Let’s give a HUGE East Jay shoutout to Manuel — we’re so proud of you and we’ll be cheering you on from home!