BENTONVILLE -- Wyatt D'Spain knows what it takes to play soccer with the older boys, and it's something he's done for quite some time.
It's one of the reasons the junior midfielder has found his spot on a senior-laden Bentonville boys soccer roster this spring, and he will be there when the Tigers take on Fort Smith Northside for the Class 7A State Championship today at Razorback Field.
Class 7A state boys soccer championship
Bentonville vs. Fort Smith Northside
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Razorback Field
Records: Bentonville Tigers 17-2; Northside Grizzlies 12-4
How they got here: Bentonville, the top seed from the 7A-West Conference, had a first-round bye, defeated Fayetteville 6-0 and Little Rock Catholic 2-0. Northside, the second seed from the 7A-West, defeated Conway 2-0 and Rogers High 2-0.
Profile
Wyatt D’Spain
School: Bentonville
Class: Junior
Height: 5-8
Notable: A two-year starter at a midfield position for the Tigers. … Has three goals, including one on a 40-yard kick against Fort Smith Northside during an April 2 match at Bentonville, and six assists this season despite being a more defensive-minded person.
"Fortunately, I've had the ability to play soccer, not only on the high school team, but in club soccer with most of these guys for most of my life," D'Spain said. "I've had that position of maturity in learning from them, and they've been great leaders on the team.
"They have really set up what this team looks like on and off the field, and they really have set this team to higher standards. They're great leaders and give me aspirations to what I want to be as a player."
D'Spain (5-8, 160), a two-year starter, not only has his spot in the starting lineup, but he plays an integral role in the Bentonville's game plan as one of the midfielders. He's part of the front line of the Tigers' defense, and he's counted on to help the team turn a defensive stand to an offensive attack in the matter of moments.
In fact, Bentonville coach Mike Devaney calls D'Spain a player who has grown into his role and the person who makes Bentonville go.
"He's that defensive anchor for us in midfield," Devaney said. "He's the one that stops the other team's best playmaker from playing, and he allows more skillful and creative players to get on the ball and have that freedom to attack, knowing Wyatt can cover a lot of ground.
"But he's not just that defensive presence. He's two-footed and has a great range of passing. He wins balls in the air and scores goals. So he's an all-around terrific player and athlete."
D'Spain's position on the field as a center defensive midfielder is just a slight adjustment from the spot he played last year, but his role is completely different. His main role is to make sure the team's defense is "structurally intact."
However, he also has to be aware he must turn from defense to offense as quick as he can, and he has benefited from that ability. D'Spain enters today's game with three goals, including one on a kick from about 40 yards out in an April 2 meeting against Northside, and six assists.
"It's been a little bit different moving from an offensive-minded role to a defensive-minded role," D'Spain said. "I love playing in that spot this year. It's given me a lot of opportunities to grow as a player and help the team.
"A big part of my game this year that I was trying to improve was ball movement and switching the field. In the midfield, it's critical to keep the ball moving from side to side. I've gotten to see how effectively Josh Howard does it, so I've been personally trying to pick that up and try to maintain possession of the ball."
Sports on 05/23/2015