Soccer is Versen's Beginning, Middle and End

It's almost forgotten now, but the record books will show Charlie Versen playing a sport called volleyball.

Still, in Versen's world, soccer is the beginning, middle and end of the resident's sports endeavors.

"I've played it pretty much my whole life,'' Versen said. "Some people don't like that it can be low scoring, but I think that makes it more exciting. I'm not a huge fan of ties, but they are better than losses."

Versen, a junior at , plays center-midfielder and has scored six goals in the Caxys' first eight games.

Showed Talent Early

assistant coach Sole Antonijevic has watched Versen play soccer since back when he was 11 years old.

"He was one of the most talented players in our club,'' Antonijevic said. "I've known the kid for such a long time. He's really mature and a leader on the team. He's very knowledgably about the game."

Of course, Versen does play soccer under the direction of head coach Kevin Versen.

"My dad grew up with it and I did, too,'' he said.

In these days of competitive soccer, those players who put the time in playing for clubs usually improve at a greater rate.

Club Soccer Means Travel

Versen certainly has seen the country through the sport of soccer. Right now, he's a member of the Chicago Wind soccer club. And that team did quite well in the last postseason.

"The Wind won a state title,'' he said.

And that championship earned him a trip to the regionals in South Dakota.

Through his play for the Chicago Fire, he had a chance to see Dallas. And there is more. Versen also took turns playing in the Olympic Development Program. This team made treks to both Florida and Arizona.

Caxys Making Noise

After a 10-2 start, Versen believes is rounding into shape.

"We are working as a team better this year,'' he said.

And it's not like he's playing with a team of strangers. Those serious soccer players seem to know each other from club ball.

"We have a lot of kids from the Chicagoland,'' he said. "My whole junior class comes from my club team."

This junior admits school comes in second place in a race with soccer. But he is a fan of the academy.

"I like soccer, but at the school, I get to know my teachers more than if I was at a public school,'' he said. "They really teach us how college will be."

Even though he has another year of soccer ahead of him at , Versen is looking to play soccer in college. He's not too picky, but he wouldn't mind a warmer climate.

"I would like to play in the South,'' he said. "Or anywhere I can play soccer."