Soccer Player Features

A KICK IN THE WRIGHT DIRECTION

Senior goalie Shane Wright takes next step in career

Article by David Hull Photo by Raheel Patel

Millions of high school students across the nation compete with the goal of becoming a division I athlete, but only around 2% succeed. With soccer being the most played sport in the world, senior Shane Wright has de ed the odds and become a part of the small group of high school goalies to take their talents to the next level. the next level.

Wright has been playing soccer since he Wright has been playing soccer since he can remember, nding an early passion while can remember, nding an early passion while playing in youth recreational leagues. What playing in youth recreational leagues. What started as a pastime grew into a lifestarted as a pastime grew into a lifestyle, becoming his primary focus. style, becoming his primary focus. Wright’s athletic ability gave him Wright’s athletic ability gave him an advantage against his compean advantage against his competition, playing many positions tition, playing many positions on the defensive side of the on the defensive side of the ball, but as the competiball, but as the competition increased, his training and mindset had to rise to a new level.

While playing for While playing for Florida Kraze Krush Florida Kraze Krush under Trinity’s curunder Trinity’s current head coach, rent head coach, Ray Sandidge, Ray Sandidge, Wright made Wright made the transition the transition to goalkeepto goalkeeper. Sandidge er. Sandidge said that he said that he was able to was able to make the change make the change and excel in the position and excel in the position because of his persistence and because of his persistence and dedication to the game. dedication to the game.

“It’s a very demanding po“It’s a very demanding position,” Sandidge said. “He sition,” Sandidge said. “He was able to make that change was able to make that change because of his work ethic. He because of his work ethic. He has a great mindset, always has a great mindset, always working on his game and working on his game and wanting to get better.” wanting to get better.”

Wright began his high Wright began his high school career at Timber school career at Timber Creek, starting every game Creek, starting every game of the season in only his second year of playing goalkeeper. After the season, Sandidge reached out in need of a goalie. Sandidge had only been out in need of a goalie. Sandidge had only been coaching at Trinity for a year but coaching at Trinity for a year but his impact on the team had his impact on the team had been felt. Wright believed been felt. Wright believed that playing with other that playing with other talented players and his talented players and his club coach would help club coach would help him reach the next level. him reach the next level.

“Soccer wise, it’s just a more competitive environment with all the guys here,” Wright said. “It’s a smaller group of people but the people that are here, they’re committed. ey’re good and the level is higher but people really want to work.” Wright’s soph- “He has a great mindset, omore plans were knocked o track always working on his while warming up during a game game and wanting to get against Monteverde. Wright dove for a better.” routine save but as he hit the ground he - Ray Sandidge, Head Coach felt a sharp pain, fracturing his nger in four places. Having to spend the next six weeks recovering was a game-changing experience for Wright that changed him for the better.

“I had to go to games and practices just to watch people play what I wanted to be doing,” Wright said. “I hated not playing but learned a lot sitting out, it made me a better player and person.” roughout Wright’s challenges and injuries, he could always rely on one of his most essential supporters, coach Ray Sandidge. Sandidge establishes his position as coach on the eld, but o the eld he supports his players as a mentor and friend. “Whenever I have a problem or something, I can always go to him and talk to him,” Wright said. “I don’t know how to explain it other than like a second dad. He teaches me so much. I can talk to him about whatever I need and he o ers help. He’s just been awesome.” Wright’s club participation is a key contributor to his abilities. He said that the higher competition pre“Soccer wise, pares him for the next level and often has colit’s just a more com- legiate coaches in attendance. Getting in touch petitive environment with coaches can be a challenge for many high with all the guys here,” school athletes, considering the large amount Wright said. “It’s a small- of players across the nation. Wright reached er group of people but the out and caught the eye of many schools, inpeople that are here, they’re cluding the University of Central Florida. committed. ey’re good “[ e UCF coach] said I am one of the hardand the level is higher but est workers that they’ve seen in a while and I people really assured him want to work.” I’m going to Wright’s soph- work as hard omore plans were as I can,” knocked o track Wright said. while warming e sub up during a game -stantial inagainst Monteverde. crease in levWright dove for a el of comperoutine save but as tition from he hit the ground he high school felt a sharp pain, frac- to college turing his nger in four has never frightplaces. Having to spend the next six weeks ened Wright. He said his work ethic and drive recovering was a game-changing experience puts him above other college athletes and is for Wright that changed him for the better. noticeable to his teammates and coaches.

“I had to go to games and practices just to “I’m obviously a good athlete, but I’m not watch people play what I wanted to be do- the most athletic person ever,” Wright said. “I ing,” Wright said. “I hated not playing but just work, that’s it. If you work hard, and you learned a lot sitting out, it made me a better have that base ability, then you can get someplayer and person.” where with it.”

essential supporters, coach Ray Sandidge. Sandidge establishes his position as coach on the eld, but o the eld he supports his players as a mentor and friend.

“Whenever I have a problem or something, I can always go to him and talk to him,” Wright said. “I don’t know how to explain it other than like a second dad. He teaches me so much. I can talk to him about whatever I need and he o ers help. He’s just been awesome.” Wright’s club participation is a key contributor to his abilities. He said that the higher competition prepares him for the next level and often has collegiate coaches in attendance. Getting in touch with coaches can be a challenge for many high school athletes, considering the large amount of players across the nation. Wright reached out and caught the eye of many schools, including the University of Central Florida.

“[ e UCF coach] said I am one of the hardest workers that they’ve seen in a while and I ened Wright. He said his work ethic and drive puts him above other college athletes and is noticeable to his teammates and coaches.

“I’m obviously a good athlete, but I’m not the most athletic person ever,” Wright said. “I just work, that’s it. If you work hard, and you have that base ability, then you can get somewhere with it.”

DREAMS TO REALITY

Senior Ryan Avallone takes his talents to the next level

Article by David Steinberg Photo by Raheel Patel

As S.S.C. Napoli took the eld for the 2012 Coppa Italia nal, 8-year-old Ryan Avallone eagerly cheered on from over 5,000 miles away. Despite being so far from Naples, he felt a close connection to Italian football, something he inherited from his dad who was born in Italy. As Avallone watched Napoli capture its fourth Coppa Italia title, he dreamt of one day playing on a similar stage. Ten years later, Avallone nds himself one step closer to his goal after committing to play division 1 soccer at the College of Charleston.

Avallone began playing soccer at the age of 3 and immediately fell in love with the competitiveness and complexity of the sport. Inspired by his dad, who’s also a coach, Avallone grew up with a ball at his foot. Now a senior in high school, he has grown to understand and appreciate what the game has to o er.

“I just love competing,” Avallone said. “I feel like the freedom you have di ers from other sports in a way. In a lot of other sports, there are set plays and ‘you do this’ or ‘you do that,’ but soccer is so creative and free minded. It’s so creative and almost like a form of art in that sense.”

Avallone has played soccer at Trinity since coming to the school in sixth grade and has been on the varsity team since eighth grade. During that time, the team has found much success, including a state semi- nal appearance two years ago. Outside of school, Avallone plays club soccer with the 2004 Florida Kraze Krush team (FKK), coached by Ray Sandidge. Avallone has played for Sandidge since he was 6-years-old and has built a close connection with him. Not only does Avallone view Sandidge as a mentor, but also a friend he can count on.

“I mean, he’s been my coach for forever, but we’ve grown to be friends,” Avallone said. “He’ll call me, and we’ll talk about games or even talk about something outside of games. We’ve grown closer over the years, and as I mature, I become more of a friend to him.”

In 2019, Sandidge was hired by Trinity as the varsity head coach. Coming to the school, he hoped to bring a hard-working, family- rst mentality. e players embraced this attitude, resulting in three winning seasons. For Sandidge, having a speci cally close relationship with Avallone and his family automatically with Avallone and his family automatically makes him a little tougher on Avallone than makes him a little tougher on Avallone than other players, but that never ruins their reother players, but that never ruins their relationship. lationship.

“I’ve known Ryan “I’ve known Ryan

for his for his whole whole life,” Sanlife,” Sandidge said. didge said. “Obviously I’ve “Obviously I’ve known him for known him for a long, long time a long, long time and it makes a di erand it makes a di erence, being family ence, being family friends also, but we friends also, but we have a very good, have a very good, open relationship. open relationship. So sometimes So sometimes I’m harder on I’m harder on him than othhim than others, but that’s ers, but that’s just the way just the way it goes.” it goes.”

Over the Over the past few years, past few years, Sandidge has seen Sandidge has seen Avallone take major Avallone take major strides on the strides on the eld, speci eld, speci cally citing his cally citing his growth in physicality from the weight growth in physicality from the weight room. Avallone’s vision has always been room. Avallone’s vision has always been one of his best attributes, yet as he matures, one of his best attributes, yet as he matures, his growing frame has helped him get to the his growing frame has helped him get to the next level. Sandidge credits Avallone’s work next level. Sandidge credits Avallone’s work ethic for his improvement into a top player in ethic for his improvement into a top player in the area. the area.

“I think he’s probably one of the best passers of the ball in all of Central Florida,” Sandidge said. “As he’s grown and matured, we’ve set out to work on his physicality and heading the ball, and he’s really improved in those areas, as well as taking a leadership role now as a senior.” Avallone plays at the center mid position, which is in between the forward and defensive side. Accordward and defensive side. According to Sandidge, the position ing to Sandidge, the position allows for Avallone to showcase allows for Avallone to showcase his passing ability and leadership. his passing ability and leadership. Growing up, Avallone played many Growing up, Avallone played many positions, but he has found the most positions, but he has found the most success at center mid. success at center mid. “I like being able to control ev“I like being able to control everything,” Avallone said. “Being erything,” Avallone said. “Being in the middle, you see the eld in the middle, you see the eld in a di erent way than in other positions, and you can also communicate with both the backs and forwards, kind of commanding the forwards, kind of commanding the team in that sense.” team in that sense.” Avallone began talking to colleges Avallone began talking to colleges late in his sophomore year. At the time, he late in his sophomore year. At the time, he was deciding between two schools when the was deciding between two schools when the College of Charleston reached out to set up a College of Charleston reached out to set up a call.Shortly after, Avallone went on a visit to call.Shortly after, Avallone went on a visit to tour the campus and the school’s facilities, and tour the campus and the school’s facilities, and fell in love with the culture of the program. fell in love with the culture of the program. Avallone and his family also met with the Avallone and his family also met with the team’s coaches, who had come down to Floriteam’s coaches, who had come down to Florida earlier in the year to watch him play. Head da earlier in the year to watch him play. Head Coach Keith Wiggins expects big things from Coach Keith Wiggins expects big things from Avallone in his freshman year, and believes he Avallone in his freshman year, and believes he will be a key player in the team’s future. will be a key player in the team’s future.

“I am very excited to add Ryan to our team,” “I am very excited to add Ryan to our team,” Wiggans said. “He is committed to growing Wiggans said. “He is committed to growing his game and has a work ethic that is unhis game and has a work ethic that is unmatched. He will immediately strengthen matched. He will immediately strengthen our mid eld and compete for minutes our mid eld and compete for minutes from his rst day on campus. Spendfrom his rst day on campus. Spending time with him and his family has ing time with him and his family has made me appreciate him even more as made me appreciate him even more as a person. I think he will t into our a person. I think he will t into our group very well.” group very well.”