Chayse Van Velkinburgh, hard at work. (Photos courtesy Dustin Van Velkinburgh)
He’s pursuing the dream.
At home in Coupeville, Chayse Van Velkinburgh is on his way to middle school and will be a 6th grader this fall.
On the soccer field, however, he’s ahead of his age group, often playing with older teammates.
And now the sport has taken him abroad, with Van Velkinburgh spending several weeks in May learning and training in Spain.
While visiting the soccer hot spot, the young Wolf booter practiced with a U17 team in Madrid most mornings, then trained in the evening with fellow 11- and 12-year-olds.
Those latter sessions came with a Leganes program which is among the best in the region.
During his trip, Van Velkinburgh was able to play with multiple teams, offering a unique learning experience.
Taking the field with Alcorcon, Chayse “played very well on the left wing, hitting the crossbar and then forcing the keeper to make a diving save to his left,” according to dad Dustin.
“It was fun to hear people in the stands talking about the pink-haired American.”
Looking snazzy on the Spanish pitch.
Thanks to his play, the younger Van Velkinburgh has been invited to return to Spain for a week in November and train at the high-caliber Real Madrid Youth Academy.
Chayse will be joined on the trip by Thatcher Whiteaker, a former teammate who recently returned to Oak Harbor after his Navy family spent three years in Japan.
The duo currently plays for a select team in Bellingham.
The first trip to Spain — which also included a chance to watch Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League Final — offered a chance to witness an extremely high level of soccer.
“Being in Madrid as they won was something else,” Dustin Van Velkinburgh said. “It’s like the entire city stopped and the only thing that mattered for two hours was that game.
“And the streets erupted afterward. The parties and singing lasted far into the night.
“The quality of soccer Chayse was exposed to has been eye opening. I’m forever grateful for this opportunity for him.”
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