Sitting in a classroom of unknown faces, senior Sondre Roos waits to get out and do the one thing he loves: soccer. Roos was a forward on the Stillwater boys varsity soccer team, and is currently an exchange student from Sweden.

Roos was an important part of the team until he was released from it. This caused a major stir within the soccer community and raised concern, why the former athlete of the week and foreign exchange student got kicked off the team.

“The soccer team told me I was ineligible to play,” said Roos. Since Roos is an exchange student, and living with host parents, he was unable to participate in varsity soccer.

Senior Taylor Falzone thinks it is a shame and unfair that Roos can no longer play. “If it were me, I would be really mad that I could not do something I loved,” said Falzone.

Roos has been playing soccer since he was 5 and enjoys everything about it. Being part of a team, and having fun with teammates is one of his favorite parts about soccer.

Jake Smothers, coach of the boys varsity soccer team, said, “You can tell how much soccer means to him.” He is a very committed player too, “He is at every training session, and at every game on the bench,” said Smothers. “He is still a significant part of the team despite not being able to play games.”

 Although he is upset about the news, he is staying positive. “I am joining the St. Croix soccer team,” said Roos. Although he cannot play with the SAHS varsity team, he still is able to enjoy playing soccer.

On top of being an exceptional soccer player, Roos also has great leadership skills. “He is always at training and working with the players around him to get them better,” said Smothers. “His selflessness and commitment to players he had never met until August, from a completely different country, is a great attribute to our team and shows his true character.”

Smothers, like any other great coach, is sad to see Roos go. “Sondre had already integrated himself as an important part of the program, as well as a young man the team really liked,” said Smothers. The team will ultimately miss him, but Roos still has a chance to play soccer, even if it means not on the Varsity team.