Wolfpack sophomore Travis Wannemuehler and incoming freshmen Caleb Duvernay and Conor Donovan all took part in a recent Under-20 U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team Camp, hosted by N.C. State from May 17–25.

The U-20 team, coached by State alumnus Tab Ramos, played friendlies against the North American Soccer League professional side Carolina RailHawks, the RailHawks’ U-23 side and the Wilmington Hammerheads. Donovan and Duvernay both played significant minutes in the scrimmages.

“Conor’s been in pretty much every youth national team camp for the last couple of years,” N.C. State head coach Kelly Findley said about his new center back. “So, despite playing in a professional stadium in front of family and friends, I didn’t expect him to be nervous. He played really well and showed why he’s a part of the U-20s.”

Findley was similarly impressed with Duvernay, a quick and combative left back making his debut with the national team pool.

“I was very impressed with Caleb,” Findley said. “I thought he played very well, and he handled his emotions very well. This was his first national team camp, and he was starting against a professional side in his hometown in front of family and friends.”

In Duvernay and Donovan, Findley has players capable of challenging the experienced incumbents already on the team.

“The best thing about having great players coming in is that they push everyone in the team already,” Findley said. “That’s something I’m looking forward to. I think, and to quote Chelsea head coach José Mourinho, ‘Players make decisions for coaches.’ These two guys and the rest of the incoming class will make our team much better.”

For midfielder Wannemuehler, who played as a right defender for the U-20s, each call up to the national team pool is a chance to grow and demonstrate professionalism.

“While coach Findley and the staff do a great job of maintaining a professional standard, we are still collegiate athletes,” Wannemuehler said. “NCAA rules mean we have to take days off, but with the U-20s it’s a true professional atmosphere. Even if you have an ‘off’ day you’re still going through professional treatment and training, so there really isn’t an ‘off’ day.”

For Wannemuehler, Duvernay and Donovan, having the camp in Raleigh was a massive benefit.

“It was huge,” Wannemuehler said. “Obviously I felt comfortable. I didn’t have to fly, which was nice, just a mile-and-a-half to the hotel. With guys flying in from all around the country and even some guys coming from overseas, training where I train every day was really nice.”

In the match versus the RailHawks, Wannemuehler found himself up against former N.C. State attacking midfielder Nazmi Albadawi, who now plays professionally with the RailHawks.

“We’re still very good friends,” Wannemuehler said. “It’s different because, since I’ve known him, we’ve never not been on the same team. However, he supports me with the U-20s and I support him as he’s just started out on his professional career. It was a really neat experience.”

Playing alongside Donovan and Duvernay in the U-20s’ defense was also special for Wannemuehler, as these players will soon be teammates at N.C. State.

“Conor is a very mature play and mature guy for his age,” said Wannemuehler when asked about whether he has become a mentor to the future Wolfpack players. “Caleb is, too, but Conor is extremely professional and demands a lot from himself, so I’ve learned a lot from him while he’s picked up on how we do things at State from me.”

Duvernay, the youngest of the three, gets the benefit of Donovan’s leadership and Wannemuehler’s experience, according to Wannemuehler.

With Wannemuehler already a starter, and the national-level quality of Duvernay and Donovan arriving along with high-quality players from all over the country, State’s future is both strong and experienced. 

Adding these players to the existing core group can only increase the possibilities of making it to the NCAA tournament.

“We’re really gelling well as a group,” Wannemuehler said. “Our chemistry starts off the field, because that’s where we spend most of our time together. Once we start to trust each other there, on-the-field things just get better. Our expectations are to make the tournament, and anything can happen from there.”