Soccer player is lead scorer

Gentry foreign-exchange student from Ecuador hopes to play more soccer and continue his education in the U.S.

Gentry senior and soccer player Antonio DiMella is a foreign exchange student from Quito, Ecuador, who excels in academics and in soccer. He is the leading scorer in conference and hopes to get a scholarship to go to college and play soccer in the U.S. next year.
Gentry senior and soccer player Antonio DiMella is a foreign exchange student from Quito, Ecuador, who excels in academics and in soccer. He is the leading scorer in conference and hopes to get a scholarship to go to college and play soccer in the U.S. next year.

— Pioneer soccer player Antonio DiMella is the top scorer in the conference and is averaging two goals every game. And he’s a versatile player for Gentry too, with skills at any positionon the field, including goal keeper.

DiMella, a senior at Gentry High School, is a foreign exchange student from Ecuador with family roots in Campobasso, Italy. And in addition to beingan excellent student - even getting an A in English though he primarily speaks Spanish and Italian - he truly excels on the soccer field.

“He was offered to play professionally in Ecuador but wanted to finish school first,” said soccer coach Mason Pinkley. “He hopes to get a scholarship and go to college. He likes it here and wants to stay if he can,” Pinkley said.

“I have been playing soccer ever since I can remember,” DiMella said. “Probably ever since I could walk.”

Though he can play every position on the field, DiMella said playing midfielder is his favorite.

Pinkley describes him as “a smart kid and a studious guy” who is a real asset to his soccer team and a leader.

He leads by example rather than being outspoken, Pinkley said. “The other guys (on the soccer team) want to emulate him.”

Pinkley says he moves DiMella around on the soccer field as he needs him. He may start out as a forward or midfielder but if defense becomes an issue, he’ll move him back to the sweeper position to help protect the goal.

And DiMella hopes to continue playing soccer in the U.S.

“I hope to be able to get a scholarship to college so I can keep playing soccer here,” he said.

Though not entirely sure of what field of study he’d like to pursue, he said he was considering engineering as a longterm goal. He also plans to play soccer professionally after he finishes his schooling.

“I hope to play professionally some day,” DiMella said. “It’s hard, but I’ll do it though,” he added.

Though Gentry is much different from his home in the Ecuadorian capitol, a city with 1.5 million people and located at an altitude of9,200 feet in the Andes Mountains, DiMella says he is truly enjoying it here.

“It’s a lot smaller here and the culture is different,” DiMella said, “but I’m meeting new people and having new experiences. I enjoy it. I’m having a great time.”

Sports, Pages 11 on 04/13/2011