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NAME: |
Tyler Defosse |
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AGE: |
12 |
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SPORTS |
Soccer |
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Parents: |
Arne & Lisa |
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Siblings: |
Two Brothers:
Justin 14,
Zachary 9 |
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Pro Team: |
Manchester United |
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Favorite Pro: |
Ronalinho,
Christiano Ronaldo
and many others |
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Tyler was a member of the
Odyssey U12 Boys State Champion
team. |
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Tyler is
part of a growing trend among Maine
youth soccer players. He and many others
around the state are following their
passion and playing soccer year round.
He plays
on two soccer teams right now, the
Windham U13 Boys travel team and the
Windham Middle School 7th grade team.
Once those
seasons end, Tyler will start playing
indoors for Odyssey, a premier soccer
club in Portland. Tyler will play for
his Odyssey team throughout the winter
and spring and possibly into the summer
depending on if his team advances to the
regional tournament again next season.
His
Odyssey U12 short-sided (8v8) team won
the state tournament and represented
Maine in the Region 1 tournament that
was held in the Greater Portland area
this past summer.
The team
finished the tournament (1-1-1) and
walked away with some very valuable
experience having played against state
champions from Virginia, Vermont and
Rhode Island.
Tyler's
passion for soccer is attested to by his
parents who say, "He comes down in the
morning and has a mini indoor soccer
ball at his feet. He dribbles it to the
kitchen while he is getting his
breakfast and keeps it under his feet
while eating. In fact, if he can't find
his ball for some reason, he doesn't
feel right and can't really focus on
anything else until he finds it."
We learned
of Tyler's latest feat on the soccer
field last week. A feat that not only
takes a lot of skill, but also the right
positioning from the opposing team and a
little luck.
On the
play, Tyler was selected to take his
team's corner kick enabling to use his
natural shooting foot, his right to
attempt the kick. The play is usually
designed to be a crossing pass with
multiple teammates making staggered runs
at the goal with the hope that one of
them will have the chance to make solid
contact with the ball and deposit into
the back of the net.
Tyler was
humble in his response, stating that he
got a little help from a deflection from
a defender. Our eye witnesses tell us
that if there was a deflection it was
minimal and the ball was headed for the
goal either way.
This was a
big time kick from a rising star and we
want to share it with you and introduce
you to a player whose name you will hear
a lot as he makes his way onto the
varsity team in a few years.
WSP:
What
grade are you in?
TYLER:
7th
WSP:
What
school do you go to?
TYLER:
Windham Middle School.
WSP:
What
is your favorite subject?
TYLER:
Mathematics
WSP:
Favorite Movie?
TYLER:
FA Premier
League-Greatest Goals 2002 to 2003
WSP:
What
other sports do you play?
TYLER:
Last year I did summer track and last
fall I ran cross-country for the school
team. Right now, I am busy with soccer
year round but I might do summer track
again next summer.
WSP:
Do
you do any activities outside of sports?
TYLER:
I was on the math team last year and
plan to do that again this year once
sign-ups come around. Mostly, homework
and soccer take up my free time. On the
weekends, when I am not playing soccer
or doing homework, I enjoy spending time
with my family and friends.
WSP:
Favorite Sport?
TYLER:
SOCCER/FUTBOL!!!
WSP:
What
team(s) do you play for?
TYLER:
I play for the 7th grade
team in Windham and for the Windham U13
Boys Travel Team. In the winter and
spring, I play for Odyssey.
WSP:
What
position do you play?
TYLER:
Wherever the coach tells
me to play. This year, I have spent
most of my time as a midfielder so far.
WSP:
How long
have you been playing soccer?
TYLER:
about 7 years
WSP:
What is
your favorite thing about soccer?
TYLER:
I don't have one favorite thing. Some
of my favorite aspects of soccer are
playing midfield, saving goals,
assisting my teammates so that they can
score, and trying on new cleats
WSP:
What is your least favorite thing about
soccer?
TYLER:
Probably playing goalie
WSP:
We heard
you scored on a corner kick last week.
Do you practice that
shot?
TYLER:
I
used to practice corners with my dad in
the backyard, but never tried to score
off one
WSP:
Was that
the first time you have scored on a
corner kick?
TYLER:
Yes,
except for a few times in the backyard
by accident
WSP:
Describe
the shot and what you were thinking as
the ball was bending into the goal.
TYLER:
. I spotted the goalie
10 yards out and decided to try to hook
the ball behind him. As my shot was
sneaking by the defender, he grazed it
with his forehead, giving it a tiny
deflection to bounce past the bewildered
goalie. I was so thrilled!
WSP:
What do you want
to do when you grow up?
TYLER:
I want to play
professional soccer and have a job with
electronics. I also think that I would
like to be a soccer coach someday.
