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Terrapins' Sever Competes Overseas

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 15, 2008

CLEARWATER - When Tampa Prep opens school Tuesday, one of its students will be a continent away.
Junior soccer player Wes Sever will be in London, continuing the remarkable year he has had on the field, as a member of an American all-star team competing in the inaugural Chelsea FC Youth Cup. For Sever, who in the past eight months has won a state title with Tampa Prep and been named to the Tribune All-Hillsborough County team and the U.S. Developmental Academy Southeast Conference under-16 team, the success has come as a bit of a surprise.

"I don't really know what happened this year," Sever said. "I wasn't really expecting to get it at the Disney All-Star Showcase, I thought I played well, but I would have never thought that would happen to me."

According to Tampa Prep and Chargers teammate Alex Tuch, that kind of modesty is typical of Sever's nature. While Sever may have been surprised to be selected to go to London, Tuch said none of his teammates were.

"Definitely not," Tuch said. "He was definitely one of the best competitors for our team, the most effective, so really it didn't come as a surprise to any of us."

Tuch has played with Sever for two years at Tampa Prep, and he became a Clearwater Chargers teammate last year. But even before he played alongside him, Tuch was aware of Sever's ability.

"I'd always known about him as a player," Tuch said. "Just his speed and everything. For me, playing in the midfield with someone that quick and that skilled is a really good situation for a player like me."

Sever scored 39 goals last season for Tampa Prep, including three in two games at the state final four, and his performances have drawn attention from college coaches. He gives a lot of credit to Chargers director of coaching Peter Mannino, who has been ever-present since Sever began playing with the Chargers.

"I've played here since under-9," Sever said, "so Coach Pete has been there for me my whole soccer life. He's taught me everything."

Sever thinks the opportunities that are now available to youth soccer players in the U.S. is helping the game and players develop at a faster rate than in the past.

He hopes getting the chance to train and compete against some of the best players in the world will push him to a higher level. The prospect of one day being able to play professionally is an appealing one, but he knows that's a long way off.

"It's going to be a great experience for me," Sever said. "I definitely want to play in college, and right now it's a maybe after college, but I would love to play professional soccer. That's what I've always dreamed and hope for. I'm going to keep working."

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243 or at nmurray@tampatrib.com

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