Moving swiftly across the grass field, number 19 kicked the ball into the goal. The satisfying swish of the net overtaking the tension-filled air. The rest of the team cheered against the roaring crowd–he had just made the winning point.

His father’s love for the sport, his first experience in a stadium, and a passion for the game had student Franceso Mapelli hooked on soccer. He chased his interest to America, 4,431 miles away from his hometown in Italy.

“I really like being in school here,” Mapelli said, “because here you can play sports in school, and in Italy you can’t. If you want to play, you would have to play outside of school.” 

Being a part of a high school sporting team was a new opportunity for Mapelli, an opportunity that he quickly seized. On school teams, students can establish a deeper connection with their peers, get involved with the district, and even play with pre-existing friends. 

Despite the many differences between Fort Wayne and his hometown of Turin, along with the stress of adjusting to a new country, Mapelli plays well on the team as a left-winger. His performance has helped them achieve an impressive win-loss ratio.  

“Francesco is extremely calm with the ball at his feet and he strikes the ball well with both feet,” Varsity soccer coach Zack England wrote in an Email interview, “He scored the game-winner against Leo.”

As of September 18, the team has 9 wins, 1 loss, and 2 ties. Overall, they have won 83% of their games this season. 

Other than soccer, Mapelli enjoys relaxing, watching TV (iCarly, Victorious), and spending time with his new friends — many of whom he has met through the team.

“I’ve met most of my friends through soccer,” He said, “I met a few in my new classes, too.” 

The next step for Mapelli, as well as the boy’s varsity soccer team, will be on Monday, September 23. The team will play against rival Homestead for the season’s game 14. 

The match will take place at Homestead at 7 p.m.