Youth soccer developments in WV helping athletes play in college

INSTITUTE, WV (WOWK) — Developments in youth soccer across the state are helping youth soccer players get the chance to play at a collegiate level.

Over the past few years, West Virginia has seen a steady increase in youth soccer participation, in part due to investments in youth athletics across the state.

In southwestern West Virginia, are the Shawnee and Barboursville sports complexes, with turf fields and facilities giving kids the opportunity to play year-round.

Now that participation is starting to translate to the college level. At West Virginia State University and the University of Charleston alone, there are 17 West Virginia natives on the rosters. On the D1 men’s soccer level, there are four players.

Dick Trethewey is the father of Max and Ava Trethewey, two soccer players currently playing on a D1 level. He said that seeing the opportunities his children have had has made his other son, a junior at George Washington High School in Charleston, look to play in college as well.

Adam Arthur, the founder of Football Factory, a private soccer training facility, says about 25 West Virginians will be playing college soccer this year. This is a drastic increase from just 10 years ago when only one or two would play on a collegiate level.

This all comes while West Virginia University and Marshall University are ranked in the top 10 in preseason polls, at three and eight, respectively.

Marshall University starts its season Saturday against Winthrop University.

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