Twelve-year old Anela Melton has been named to the Georgia Olympic Development Program.

Last September, Melton tried out for the United States Youth Soccer program.

The program takes only the top 35 players in each age group. Melton was selected from more than 225 players that tried out.

The main purpose of the program is to identify the best players within the state, provide them with the most advanced training and competition and prepare them for the regional and national teams.

Melton is a goalkeeper for the ODP team.

Melton has been playing soccer since she was 4-years-old.

In eight years, she has become one of the top 12-year-old goalkeepers in the state of Georgia.

She currently plays for the Atlanta Fire United U-12 Elite team, based out of Duluth.

Since September 2007, Melton has played 75 games, recording very impressive statistics. She has allowed only 52 goals averaging 0.69 goals per game. She has a 51 percent shutout rate and a 93 percent save rate.

Her dad, Wayne Melton, commented, “She made the team after eight hours of tryouts making her one of the best in the state at her age.”