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10/28/2021 12:00 AMWhether it was in Sweden or North Haven, Zion Teclechiel has always loved being on the soccer field. Now in his senior season with the North Haven boys’ soccer team, Zion’s journey has seen him become both a varsity starter and a captain for his squad.
Zion first started playing soccer at age six in his home country of Sweden. Zion’s father Daniel introduced him to the sport, and the two of them watched a lot of soccer on television. After his dad taught him all about the game, Zion was excited to become a soccer player.
“He would always be watching it around the house, and then he showed me how to play,” says Zion of his father. “Learning from any kind of parent is a great experience. It’s a bonding moment between the two of you. Learning about soccer was exciting.”
When he was seven, Zion and his family moved to North Haven, and he joined the town’s recreational league. Zion continued playing at the rec level until he signed up for the boys’ soccer team at North Haven Middle School.
By playing a lot of soccer, Zion felt ready to test his mettle on the high school pitch. And while moving across the globe was nerve-wracking at first, Zion instantly fit in with his new North Haven teammates.
“The switch was weird at first, but the guys were really welcoming,” Zion says. “They really made me feel at home.”
As a freshman, Zion played for North Haven’s JV team, suiting up at the central midfielder position that he had been playing since he was 12. While he had experience at the youth and middle school levels, Zion’s freshman season showed him just how difficult life can be in the varsity ranks.
“Playing high school soccer was so much different than being in middle school,” says Zion. “The guys are so much bigger. Some are four years older. It was a big jump.”
Zion was cross-rostered in his sophomore season and saw some varsity playing time. By his junior year, Zion had become a starting central midfielder for North Haven’s varsity squad. In order to fill that role, Zion had to be in tiptop physical shape and feel comfortable patrolling all ends of the field. Furthermore, just like he saw at the JV level, Zion was competing against players who were bigger and older than he was.
“That jump was very interesting. I had to be very fit. I had to be able to run up and down the field, trying to compete with these crazy athletes that are older than me,” Zion says. “Controlling the middle against guys that were bigger than me was a big jump.”
Now a senior, Zion is again a varsity starter in the midfield for North Haven. As he’s grown physically, Zion has also seen a huge boost in his confidence. After mostly keeping quiet as a freshman, Zion now takes time to talk to his teammates in order to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
“Freshman year, I was a quiet kid. I didn’t really want to raise my voice and try to be better than the juniors or seniors. But now that I’m a senior, I’m able to speak and help the younger guys out,” says Zion. “I encourage them to speak out. If they need anything, I want to be there to help them get the help they need.”
Zion’s growth as a leader helped him earn the role of team captain alongside fellow seniors Michael Brandt and Derek Mortali this season. Zion was honored that his teammates felt he was deserving of the captain’s hat.
“It made me feel great. These guys voted for me to lead the team,” Zion says. “It felt great that they thought I’d be a great role model on the field.”
John Parisella is in his first year as head coach of the North Haven’s boys’ soccer program. It didn’t take Parisella long to see how Zion supported his teammates, while playing with plenty of passion on the pitch.
“Zion has a great passion for soccer and is always supportive,” says Parisella. “He has an unrelenting desire to get better.”
Zion had to get used to his surroundings after moving to a new country. Zion did so through soccer as North Haven became both his home and a place for him to make unforgettable memories.
“It feels great being able to be an athlete here at North Haven,” Zion says. “Now being a captain, it has been a great experience these past four years.”