In a rivalry game against Saint Thomas Aquinas, senior midfielder Tomer Yair, captain of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School varsity soccer team, sprints towards the goal, kicking the ball into the net. Increasing the score to a final 1-0, Yair defeats the rival Raider team, securing recognition from colleges as a star soccer player.

Yair has played on MSD’s men’s soccer team all his four years of high school. During his senior year, Yair was selected to be a captain of the team.

On Monday, Dec. 12, Yair announced his commitment to Bloomsburg University, a team he believes can execute his soccer skills and take them to the next level.

“When I visited the school, I felt this culture of a family and a winning mentality, which is something I would love to be a part of,” Yair said. “I am looking forward to joining the Huskies for the next four years of my life.”

As with many soccer players, Yair’s passion for the sport started with his family. For Yair, soccer began from his older brother. His brother, an inspiration to him, played soccer, and it inspired Yair to start playing the game. After being on a recreational team for three years, he began to play travel soccer. Yair played for local travel teams including Coral Springs United and Parkland Soccer Club.

“I played for Coral Springs United until the age of 15, which is when I started to take soccer seriously and wanted to play at the collegiate level,” Yair said. “I then transferred to play for Parkland Soccer Club, and I am still playing for them today.”

Soccer is known as a competitive sport filled with passion, dependent on footwork and agility. For Yair, soccer is more than a sport, it is a lifestyle. Soccer helps him always want to strive to become the best version of himself.

“My passion for soccer comes from the amazing feeling I get when I have the ball at my feet, and I can feel stress-free when I am playing and can just enjoy the game,” Yair said.

Getting to this level in a sport is not easy. Yair dedicated his time towards training on and off the field throughout his life to get to where he is today. He strives to be a leader and makes sure his team gives it their all on the field.

“Tomer is one in a million,” senior right back Robbie Alhadeff said.

For Yair, adapting to this different competitive college athlete life will be difficult. But his motivation is knowing he will have support from the coaches and staff at Bloomsburg. Bloomsburg is a NCAA division II school, an intermediate-level division for college sports.

“I know, with them and my support from home, that I will be successful at not only the highest level athletically, but also academically,” Yair said.

When Yair finishes his senior year in high school in 2023, he will begin his next journey. Yair hopes to finish off his senior season strong and lead the MSD soccer team to a state championship. He looks forward to advancing his soccer career and will be focused on playing to his best ability at Bloomsburg University.