Coupeville Sports

Left to right, Dawson, Amanda, Cathy and Dan d’Almeida.

Dawson d’Almeida is a wanted man.

A week before participating in his first high school soccer practice, the Coupeville High School freshman has already assured himself of a team to play with after the Wolves end their run in the spring.

Two teams actually.

Having been selected for both the NW Nationals Red (Lynnwood) and the Washington Rush Nike (Everett) BU16 soccer squads, d’Almeida will have to make a decision. But, since the select soccer season doesn’t start until after the high school season, he’ll have time to consider all the pros and cons.

Whichever route he takes, he will suit up for a team playing RCL Division 2 soccer, one rung below where older sister Amanda played this year as a member of the NW Nationals Red. RCL Division 1 is the highest league in Washington state.

Currently deep in the throes of choosing a college — she has multiple scholarship offers and is one of only two girls on her select squad not to have signed on the dotted line — Amanda will switch things up next week when she returns to lead the Wolf girls’ tennis team during her senior season.

With the first day of high school practice slated for Monday, Feb. 25, Dawson, who has been battling the triple threat of the flu, cough and cold, will try and make an immediate positive impression on Wolf coach Paul Mendes. If he plays like he did during select squad tryouts, that shouldn’t be a problem.

“His technical skill was great at tryouts, so all those hours of juggling and playing are paying off,” said dad Dan d’Almeida, the CHS girls’ soccer coach. “Hopefully his momentum carries over to his high school season.”

Select club soccer has become the most important calling card for a player trying to land a college scholarship, with college coaches putting a higher value on that then on the high school season. For players in remote areas like Whidbey Island, that means you have to work harder to get noticed.

Along with the d’Almeida’s, other CHS players who have gone off-Island to play select soccer recently have included Luke Pelant, Josh Wilsey, Sean Donley, Jeremy Copenhaver and Zane Bundy, all who figure to feature prominently on this year’s Wolf squad.