Todd Cawley received a call from his son, Lucas, at 7 in the morning. Lucas was excited to tell his father that he'd just beaten his personal best at juggling.

His old record was right above 100 or so knees, head butts, and stalls with a soccer ball. Lucas's new record was an astonishing 950. When Todd asked his son when he'd accomplished this, Lucas told his father he finished about 10 minutes prior to calling. He'd been up all night.

"When a kid stays up all night juggling, that's what takes him to the next level," Todd Cawley said. "It's not just the natural talent, it's his work ethic."

Now, all of Lucas Cawley's hard work is paying off. The incoming sophomore at Viewmont has been accepted into the 2011 Real Madrid Select Program, a highly discerning camp that only allows 20 players from around the world. Cawley will be flying to Spain in late August to compete against the best, while getting a chance to take in the history of one of the most storied clubs in soccer.

"I've been waiting to get an opportunity like this ever since I started playing," Lucas said. "It's always been a dream of mine. It made me realize that my hard work is paying off. It hasn't ended, but it's a good shot for me to show them what I can do."

Lucas gained experience playing for the Vikings this spring under Coach Dave Wigham, a man who has been a part of Davis County sports for so long he actually coached Lucas's father, Todd. Viewmont went undefeated in Region 1 on their way to falling just one game short of a state championship berth.

"Playing under Wigham has helped me a lot to grow in different areas of my game," Lucas said. "The passing and the experience of the players that were older than me and the insight they offered helped me a lot."

While the camp is only two months away, the road is still a long one. The hardest step, being accepted into the Select Program, is behind him. Now, Lucas has to find a way to afford the trip, totaling more than $3,000 for one week, a high price for a student who won't be old enough to drive until November.

"It's quite a bit," Lucas said. "It's definitely pricey, but I'm doing fundraisers, running in a 5K, whatever I can do to raise the money to get there."

So far, Lucas has raised over $400, and is hoping to find more sponsors for a 5K event he'll be running in July. There's one twist. He'll be wearing a Real Madrid shirt – and juggling a soccer ball the entire way. —

Lucas Cawley at a glance

Captain of the La Roca Futbol Club.

Member of the Real Salt Lake Under-17 team.

One of only two Utah players to take part in the Disney Showcase, a step in the Olympic Development Program (ODP).

Anyone interested in helping with fundraising can e-mail him at lcawley9@gmail.com.