Central Soccer Player Plays at National Level

Central High School senior Kira Trexler had her chance to shine on a national level. 

The 17-year-old soccer player had a chance to play the game of Futsal for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. She played at the United Futsal National Showcase and the International World Championship that was held in Orlando, Fla.

Trexler said that she had this connection with Marcello Antonelli, who was a pro-club coach for the Riverhounds in Pittsburgh.  He also coached Orlando.

He had this camp for my high school team, he saw me there and asked if I wanted to play in Orlando at the futsal tournament," she said. "That's how it started."

Antonelli contacted the Rowdies coach and then he sent them a video.  They offered Trexler a spot on the roster.

She said that it worked out great. 

"I had a lot of fun and made new friends," Trexler said.  "My teammates were welcoming and inviting towards me.  You could tell from the beginning of the first game until the last game that we played that the bond that we made and the friendships that we made from just the first day was great."

Trexler said they invited her to all the things that they did.

"I also played against a lot of good players down there," she said.  "There was one player, specifically, who was committed to Wisconsin State for women's soccer.  That was a good experience.  I also gained confidence down there because I was able to compete with the other top teams and hold my own against all of the other top players there."

Her dad and coach Randy Trexler said that she has been playing soccer since she was five years old.

Randy said that the difference between futsal and regular soccer is that soccer has eleven players versus eleven, whereas futsal is five versus five. 

The field is also smaller and is inside.  It is more of a court, a little bit bigger than a basketball court.  The ball is also a little bit different because it is smaller.  It is a low-bounce ball for developing more control for all of the kids.  Those are the main differences.

In futsal, when the ball goes out of bounds, it must be kicked in.

"For me, it was just her finally being able to demonstrate that she can play with some of the best players, who we have ever seen in the country," Randy said. "It doesn't mean that they are the best players, but the level was really good and she fit right in.  She competed well."