The men’s varsity soccer team has to have faith in whoever is defending the net. That is why the team chose a player who has been doing this almost his whole life to be a captain and a key defender.

Playing soccer since age five, junior Tanner Krauth knows a lot about being a defender and is a great role model for younger players.

Varsity head coach Sandor Jakab has coached Krauth for seven years through travel soccer, club soccer and currently high school soccer.

According to Jakab there are some things that never change when a player grows up.

“He has always been steady and he has worked really hard to take his skills and understanding to the next level,” Jakab said.

Jakab believes Krauth, who is now a defensive captain as a junior, has strong points as a player.

“He has great confidence and is calm in any situation. He has great playing skills and a vision for the game and can use it in any situation,” Jakab said.

His teammates picked Krauth as a captain this year, which is very rare since Krauth is a junior.

“He is one of the hardest workers [on the team.] He really makes it easy for the team to play next to him,” Jakab said.

Krauth was part of the inspiration for his sister Talor to play soccer.

“We’ve all been playing since we were little but he made me want to play more,” Talor said.

Talor has nothing but positive things to say about her brother as a soccer player.

“He’s a good player, and a cool guy off the field, and though he is one of the shortest, he is definitely one of the toughest,” Talor said.

She also thinks that being a captain is a plus.

“To be a junior captain says a lot about his skills and his character,” Talor said.

Krauth also plays the big brother on and off the field.

“If I have a question about the game or defending I ask him. He makes me want to do better,” Talor said.

Krauth has two main inspirations for wanting to play soccer.

“The people that inspired me most were my dad and Coach Jakab,” Krauth said.

Krauth thinks being a captain is an honor but thinks he could have done better this past season.

“We were successful from what we started with, but it was disappointing to not make it past the District Championship against Bay Village,” Krauth said.

Practicing five to six hours during the school week can take a toll on a person’s family and social life.

“During the school [soccer] season I don’t see as much of my family as I do during the off season, but being with my teammates brings us together as a team,” Krauth said.

Krauth wants to continue to play soccer next year and in the future.

“I will play next year, and I definitely want to keep playing in college,” Krauth said.

From being an elementary student playing on the Revere Rebels, Krauth has used his leadership and soccer skills to become the Varsity captain as a junior. Krauth looks to continue his success on and off the field in the future.