Coupeville’s Chayse Van Velkinburgh (right) is playing soccer around the world. (Photos courtesy Dustin Van Velkinburgh)
Chayse Van Velkinburgh is following the bouncing soccer ball around the world.
The Coupeville 8th grader recently spent a month in Spain, pursuing the beautiful game.
Van Velkinburgh put in two weeks of intensive training with the Madrid Euro Soccer Academy, then played in Mad Cup 2024.
That tourney, now in its fourth year, boasts 809 teams, with 14,000+ kids from 34 countries playing games at 32 venues in Madrid.
Van Velkinburgh’s squad, which squared off with teams from Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela among others, made it all the way to the Elite 8 in the silver bracket.
Off to dominate on the pitch.
The young Wolf ace then hopped on a plane and headed back home, finding himself back on the soccer pitch in America mere hours later.
Suiting up with Northwest United this time, Van Velkinburgh helped his team finish second at the Skagit Firecracker Tournament.
Back in America, Dustin and Jessica’s son will continue to play with NW United, while also joining the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer program this fall.
After playing a final season of middle school basketball, he’s slated to return to Spain in January for another three-month stay at the Madrid Academy.
Chasing that ball and chasing that dream.
Coupeville Sports 