• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Raheem Taylor-Parkes makes U.S. team

October 12, 2011 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Academy at the Lakes soccer talent represents the nation

By Kyle LoJacono

Academy at the Lakes eighth grader and Wesley Chapel resident Raheem Taylor-Parkes isn’t like most 13 year olds.

His idea of a great day doesn’t include video games, computers or lying around. Taylor-Parkes prefers hot, summer days on the soccer field, pushing his body to its limits to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional player.

The 5-foot-4 forward took a step toward achieving that goal this summer when he was selected as one of 12 players for the U.S. U14 national soccer team. The program is the direct feeder system for the men’s squad that represents the United States in the Olympics and World Cup.

“It was amazing to be picked,” Taylor-Parkes said. “It was very difficult because there were a lot of good players there. I knew I had to play my best to be able to compete.”

Academy athletic director Tom Haslam said Taylor-Parkes is the first Wildcat to be picked for an Olympic development program (OPD).

“This puts him as one of the top players in the nation in his age group,” Haslam said. “It’s really a big thing. … He’s exactly the kind of kid we love having here at the academy. He is a great kid, and it’s really nice to see something like this happen to him.”

Taylor-Parkes tried out for a local ODP team earlier this year and made the final cut. From there he was selected for the state and regional teams before learning in July he was picked for the national squad.

Taylor-Parkes was born near Toronto, Canada, where he first developed a passion for soccer around age 8.

“One day I was just kicking around a soccer ball with one of my friends, and I wanted to sign up after that,” Taylor-Parkes said. “From that day I’ve wanted to play soccer. I want to be a professional. I’m not going to let a little hard work stand in the way.”

Academy boys soccer coach Roland Moldovan said Taylor-Parkes has a focus and desire to get better that he hasn’t seen in his seven years teaching the game.

“He talks like an adult,” Moldovan said. “That’s one of the first things I noticed about him is I could talk to him like an adult and he would understand the concepts. And from there he has always talked about being a professional. That’s his goal and that maturity he has is clear. He wants it, he acts like it, he practices like it and he really behaves like that.

“Of course he’s a natural talent,” Moldovan continued. “He’s so natural that even when he is working hard it looks effortless.”

Moldovan became the Wildcats coach early this year, but he has known Taylor-Parkes for about three years. He has given Taylor-Parkes private training sessions, but has coached against the budding talent in club soccer.

Taylor-Parkes plays with the Brandon Flames, a competitive travel soccer club, while Moldovan was a coach in the Fusion Futbol Club of Tampa Bay in New Tampa and Forest Hills.

Taylor-Parkes is the second player Moldovan has coached that has made an ODP team, following Atsou Ayah who made the U15 squad in 2009.

“When Atsou was picked for the national team I got him and Raheem to train together,” Moldovan said. “I remember one time they were practicing in December and it was raining really hard and it was really cold. I told them let’s go home, and both said ‘no no no coach we’ll be fine.’ They stayed and played for another hour, so Raheem puts in the hard work. ”

Taylor-Parkes came to the academy as a seventh grader after attending John Long Middle the year before.

While he was not born in the United States, Taylor-Parkes can’t stop smiling when talking about the chance to play for a U.S. national team.

“It’s fantastic to be able to represent my country,” Taylor-Parkes said.

Next up for the U14 team is a tournament in San Diego Nov. 23-28, where the national team will play the regional teams from around the country.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

September 5, 2023 By Mary Rathman

Tampa Bay welcomes WAVE Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art spinal care clinic founded by Dr. Ryan LaChance. WAVE … [Read More...] about WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

Only a Few Homes Remain — It’s Your Final Chance to Build Your Home in Del Webb Bexley

August 29, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Time is running out on your chance to live at Del Webb Bexley. We’ve built the ideal active adult community to suit your … [Read More...] about Only a Few Homes Remain — It’s Your Final Chance to Build Your Home in Del Webb Bexley

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

09/28/2023 – Lectures on the Lawn

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host its series “Lectures on the Lawn” starting with Craig Pittman, author of “Oh Florida” on Sept. 28. There will be food trucks and exhibits from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Pittman’s presentation at 6:30 p.m. Guests can bring their own chairs. No outside food or drinks. Admission is free. For information, call 727-815-7126, or visit PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 09/28/2023 – Lectures on the Lawn

09/29/2023 – Teacup Fairy Garden

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., will host a thrifty craft project for adults on Sept. 29 at 9:30 a.m. Participants can make a teacup fairy garden. Registration is required. Call 813-780-0064 for more information. … [Read More...] about 09/29/2023 – Teacup Fairy Garden

09/29/2023 – Worship Concert

The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Center will present “The Wonder of Worship Concert” on Sept. 29 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, 8550 Hunters Village Road. Admission is free. For information, call 813-943-9773, or visit TheCathedralOfWP.com. … [Read More...] about 09/29/2023 – Worship Concert

09/30/2023 – Great Discoveries

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host Charles Zidar, executive director of MAPS, for a lunch adventure, on Sept. 30 at noon. Participants can hear a talk on ancient Greek and Roman cultures, while museum artifacts are brought to your table as you eat. There will be a second session on Oct. 7 at noon to discuss ancient Mayan culture. Tickets are $28 plus taxes and fees, which includes lunch and the presentation. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/45yx47C. … [Read More...] about 09/30/2023 – Great Discoveries

10/03/2023 – Drawing Workshop

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Drawing Workshop: Exquisite Corpse, on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as part of its Museum + Art Series. Participants can learn about the exquisite corpse drawing method and create a drawing inspired by surrealist artists. Registration is required; call 727-815-7126. To learn more, visit MOMA.org/collection/terms/exquisite-corpse. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Drawing Workshop

10/03/2023 – Halloween Games/Crafts

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host Teen Halloween Games and Crafts on Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 13 to 17. Supplies will be provided. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Halloween Games/Crafts

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: