Perez makes way in national soccer

Staff report

HOWLAND

Atlanta, Virginia Beach and Walt Disney World are all popular vacation destinations. Especially this time of year, tourists flock to these locations for much needed rest, relaxation and a break from reality.

Not Seyla Perez.

The sophomore at Howland High School trades in beach towels, swimsuits and sunglasses for a jersey, cleats and a ball. She has been to all of the aforementioned spots as part of her traveling teams and is one of the most talented soccer players in Northeast Ohio.

“She’s physically more developed and faster, stronger and more athletic than any other female player of her age,” says Marko Raduka, coach of the Cleveland United club soccer team in which Seyla has been a member of for six years, “She’s just different than most girls.”

Seyla has traveled across the United States to showcase her skills. Recently, she had the chance to stack up against the best in the country as a part of the United States Youth Soccer Region Two Girls Olympic Development Program Pool Team. The regional camp took place in DeKalb, Ill., in July.

“When I first found out I was named to the team I was just excited,” she said. “It was a huge honor.”

Once in DeKalb, she joined 17 other top players from the Midwest where they were observed for a potential selection to the United States National Team, according to Ellie Singer, Region Two Administrator for the Olympic Development Program.

She was in good company, too, as numerous participants in this camp have gone on to perform at the highest level, while earning groundbreaking attention. Former Region Two camp participants were members of the 1996 Women’s World Cup Gold Medal team and, most recently, the 2011 women’s World Cup runner-up team.

“[The camp] was the first step to becoming a member of the national team,“ Perez said. “I want to be the best player I can be to get to that level.”

College programs are salivating over her abilities and potential stardom of the 15-year-old.

“Ohio schools have been very aggressive,” Raduka said. “She has been heavily recruited, and for good reason. She has the athletic ability of a Division I athlete at just 15 years old.”

Her father, William, admits that the pressure is a lot for a high school sophomore to handle. But he believes his daughter has never been more prepared.

“We were on the go all summer and she really had no breaks,” he said. “[Seyla] works extremely hard and sacrifices her time because she is so focused.”

Seyla Perez admitted the sacrifices have been hard as she devotes so much of her time to soccer. But, it has it rewards.

“I don’t get to go out with my friends as much as I used to,” she admitted. “It’s OK because I am getting better and when you’re spending so much time with your teammates, you become a family.”

She doesn’t just budget herself off the field, though.

On it, Seyla has worked on increasing her versitility to expand across the field.

Already possessing blistering speed, she worked on adjusting from being a forward to a middlefielder to what Olympic Development coach Anthony James calls an attacking midfielder.

James has single handedly ushered many talented players to the national level and, after working with Seyla privately for 21/2 half years, sees her being the next of his success stories. By feeling out new positions, James feels she is already on the right track.

“By having the skill set to play multiple positions you get a better feel for the game, he said. “It creates more opportunites to be recognized. And, at such a young age, Seyla is on the right track to being something special.”

Raduka believes she already is.

“In all my years of coaching, on the girls side, I’ve never came across someone as talented as she is now,” he said.

Those kinds of comments have been overwhelming for Seyla, but she has accepted the target on her back.

“I’m used to it and I’m always ready to play and get better,” she said.

Once her dreams are realized, she just might opt for the leisure life in favor of the soccer grind.

Until then, her only oasis is the playing field.