As the Clemson men’s club soccer team gears up for the “Socctoberfest,” The Tiger had a chance to sit down with star forward Tyler Travis to discuss his experiences with the team.
Travis, a former All-American and current sophomore at Clemson, initially debated whether to play varsity soccer at the collegiate level but decided instead to join Clemson’s club team.
“It was a really easy decision for me [to join],” Travis told The Tiger. “All the guys have been super welcoming since day one, and we’ve been good friends ever since.”
The club team has talent loaded up and down their roster, with players bringing both skill and competition to every practice.
“Practices are super competitive. There’s a lot of talent on the team,” Travis remarked. “You look around, and most of the guys either could’ve gone to college and played or did and then transferred to Clemson afterward.”
The team has proven to be more than just soccer for many players. With the time spent together, many teammates consider themselves brothers.
“During practices, we’re super competitive, but at the end of the day, we’re all good friends and can joke around with each other.”
When asked about his favorite part of being on the team, Travis highlighted the camaraderie that extends outside of play, saying, “After games, the guys and I will go out to eat, banter around and have a good time. It’s great, just going out with the guys.”
The team hopes to capitalize on their talent to win this weekend’s Socctoberfest tournament. Hosted annually by Clemson at Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex, Socctoberfest features a few of the best club teams in the Southeast. This year’s tournament features Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, Furman, South Carolina Upstate and the College of Charleston.
The Tigers will enter the tournament winless on the season, losing their lone match to Georgia Tech by a score of 0-1 two weeks ago.
“It can be an eye-opener when you lose the first game of the season,” Travis said. He is in his second semester with the team and is now experiencing his first Socctoberfest. “We’ll be ready, and we are ready to make some adjustments moving forward.”
Along with Travis, Clemson is led by captains Isaac Ritter and David Tapia.
As Travis said best, “We’re really looking forward to [Socctoberfest]. It’s about to get litty.”
Clemson begins play this Friday at 6 p.m. at Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex against Kentucky and will look to play all the way into Sunday, depending on the results of their games.
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