5 athletes, 5 stories, one dream

Every athlete who comes to Dream It brings a different story. Some come from big clubs, others from cities where professional soccer is a distant dream. Some speak perfect English, others don't even know how to apply. But they all have one thing in common: the conviction that their talent deserves an opportunity. These are the stories of Martín, Mateo, Jona, Matías, and Vicente — five athletes who trusted us and are now living their dream in the United States.

Martín Ortiz: from Colo-Colo's academy to Hoosac Prep School

Martín is not just any player. He came through the youth ranks of Colo-Colo, Chile's biggest club, and was part of the Chilean national team training cycles. He had the level. He had the dream. But professional soccer in Chile is a narrow path where many are left out — not for lack of talent, but for lack of opportunities.

When we met Martín and his family, we saw an athlete with an extraordinary profile and a family that wanted to do things right. We presented them with Hoosac Prep School in New York — an elite preparatory school where Martín can continue developing both athletically and academically before making the jump to a U.S. university.

Martín is the perfect example that the most obvious route isn't always the best one. Sometimes, preparing for one more year in the right environment is worth more than rushing into the wrong place.

Mateo Rebolledo: from Unión Española's academy to New York

Mateo came from the youth ranks of Unión Española, one of Chile's historic clubs. He had elite-level training, tactical discipline, and an emotional maturity uncommon for players his age. But the Chilean soccer system has a brutal bottleneck: from each youth generation, only a handful sign professional contracts.

Mateo and his family understood that the U.S. university path isn't a Plan B — it's a smart plan. Today he's at Hoosac Prep School alongside Martín, preparing to compete in the American university system with the training of a professional Chilean club behind him.

Jona Gramer: from Germany to New York, and from New York to California

Jona is German and arrived in the United States on his own to an NJCAA school in New York. He did what he could alone, but quickly realized that navigating the transfer system without help is like playing blindfolded. The competition level was below what he could offer, and he needed to make a jump.

When he contacted us, we analyzed his profile and his situation. We secured him a transfer to Stanton University in California — a competitive program, better weather, better league, better projection. Jona went from surviving in the system to competing with the best tools available.

Jona's story demonstrates something we see often: many athletes arrive in the U.S. without guidance and end up in programs that don't suit them. A well-executed transfer can be the difference between a mediocre experience and a top-level university career.

Matías Bittner: from Unión Española to Arkansas in record time

Matías came from Unión Española's youth academy and arrived at Dream It at a complicated moment in his career. He didn't have time for long processes. He needed a quick, concrete solution. That's where our network of contacts and our ability to react quickly made the difference.

In a matter of weeks, we secured him a scholarship at Williams Baptist University in Arkansas. The process was clean, fast, and transparent. Phil was with him every step of the way, explaining exactly what he needed to do and when.

Vicente Alarcón: from Puerto Montt to Iowa

Vicente doesn't come from Santiago. He comes from Puerto Montt, a city in southern Chile where international sports opportunities are practically nonexistent. He was part of the Deportes Puerto Montt youth academy — the city's club — and from there he dreamed of something bigger.

When he came to Dream It, the first thing that caught our attention was his attitude. Vicente listened, asked questions, and trusted. We secured him a scholarship at Iowa Lakes Community College in Iowa, where he can compete, study, and build a path toward a four-year university.

Vicente is proof that talent has no zip code. It doesn't matter if you're from Santiago's wealthiest neighborhood or from the south of Chile. If you have the right attitude and the right plan, doors open.

5 different paths, one philosophy

Martín and Mateo are at a prep school in New York preparing for the university jump. Jona transferred coast to coast. Matías resolved an emergency in weeks. Vicente traveled from southern Chile to Iowa. Five completely different stories, but with one common thread: each one received a plan tailored to their needs.

At Dream It we don't have a mold. We don't push every athlete down the same path. We listen, analyze, and propose. Sometimes the answer is a prep school. Sometimes it's NJCAA. Sometimes it's a direct NAIA placement. Sometimes it's a transfer. What never changes is that the plan has to be right for that athlete and that family.

Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it.

If you're reading this and you see yourself in any of these stories — if you're that athlete who knows they can do more, or that family that wants to give their child the best opportunity — reach out to us. No pressure, no commitment. Just a real conversation with people who've been through it.