August 20, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release
Republic FC’s youth development academy has been the region’s strongest system at preparing players for the next step in their soccer careers. This season, four homegrowns represent the club’s first team – the most in a single season in club history – and over 25 others represent professional clubs at various levels around the world.
But the club’s youth ranks have also made their mark on the collegiate level – including here in the Sacramento region at Sacramento State and UC Davis. Back in February of this year, Sacramento State Soccer announced five additions to its roster for 2024 – Midfielder Sean Battistessa, defenders Giovanni Ceja, Jonathan Dadzie, Angad Singh and forward Donovan Sessoms – each joining the Hornets after spending their developmental years in the Quails youth system.
Prior to joining the North Carolina State and Pacific, respectively, Ceja and Dadzie earned multiple opportunities with the club’s first team squad, signing Academy Contracts during the 2021 season. Battistessa played five years with the club’s academy, initially joining the Kentucky Wildcats in 2022. Singh was a part of SRFC’s academy program from 2017-23, during which he helped his U17 side to a berth in the MLS NEXT playoffs three years in a row. Sessoms represented Republic FC prior to joining the Men’s squad at UNLV. All five players represented Republic FC through 2022 – and four of them were members of the club’s 2021 U19 squad that challenged for national hardware and reached the MLS NEXT Cup semifinals in Dallas, Texas.
The fresh new five joins four other players already representing Republic FC on Hornets’ Men’s roster – the nine former Quails now making up over a third of the Hornets’ roster continuing to represent their hometown.
Center-back Fernando Venegas represented the club on an Academy Contract in 2022, making two appearances late in the season as the club pushed for playoff position and balanced its run in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. Midfielder Axel Ramirez joined the Hornets in 2020 after featuring for the club’s youth sides for two seasons. Midfielder Dominic Vegaalban joined the Hornets in 2022 after playing his freshman season at Santa Clara University, representing Republic FC’s academy for five seasons. Hasan Alkasati transferred to Sacramento State in 2023 after beginning his college career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Now, the Quail alumni and the 2024…