OTTUMWA — Danton Irelan, 14, of Blakesburg was part of the ‘94 Iowa Olympic Development Program soccer squad that won the finals of the Region II camp in Rockford, Ill. on July 16.

Fourteen Midwest States competed in the training camp and the Iowa squad took down Ohio South 3-1 in the finals. It was only the second Iowa team in the history of the ODP that has accomplished that feat according to Danton’s father Gene.

The ODP is sponsored by the United States Soccer Association and competes in an attempt to identify the top soccer players in the four regions of the U.S.

Irelan has played for the Iowa ODP ’94 team for four years. He plays forward and mentioned that his team’s toughest match was a 1-0 victory over Illinois in the semifinals.

Irelan was a member of the Ottumwa Soccer Club for four-plus years and is now performing for the Ankeny Soccer Club’s Select Program U-15 boys team. Irelan will try out again this month for his fifth season with the Iowa ODP ’94 soccer squad.