Gloucester's Lebel Puts Foot Into Soccer and Academics

For Gloucester resident P.J. Lebel, soccer is much more than a temporary diversion from his middle school studies.

PJ Lebel drills a shot for his Baystars FC U-13 squad

Not that his studies are causing concern. Lebel, a straight “A” student last year at Peasley Middle School, was recently inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and is getting prepared to take Geometry as a rising eighth grader at Page Middle. Math is his favorite subject, mainly because of the challenge it presents.

“It’s pretty hard,” says the 13-year old.

But, as the captain and center midfielder for the Baystars FC U-13 Riptides team, Lebel, who has played soccer since age four, has made the sport a yearlong endeavor. Over the past year, he participated in fall, winter and spring leagues with the Riptides, a team that is coached by his father Pete Lebel.

Founded in 1991, the Baystars FC was originated to promote and develop youth soccer on the Middle Peninsula. With ten teams and over 150 players, the Baystars are a traveling team which represents players between the ages of 8-18 from the Gloucester region in the Virginia Soccer League (VSL). The VSL hosts over 320 teams and 4,500 players from the southeast sector of Virginia (and N.C.’s Outer Banks), making it the fourth largest league in the state.

“We are looking for players from the Gloucester area who are interested in playing (soccer) in high school and college,” said coach Lebel. Speaking to the credentials of the Baystars network he adds, “All of the coaches in our organization have (certification) licenses to coach youth soccer. We are committed to educating young people about the importance of sportsmanship and fellowship while providing a high quality soccer experience that will give them a strong foundation to build upon.”

The spring season was particularly memorable, as the Riptides finished undefeated (6-0-2) and won their division. As a capstone, Lebel, the team’s leader in assists, was nominated by his teammates to represent their team at the first annual VSL East-West Showcase last month, a match which was won by his East squad 3-2. For the rising eighth grader, it was his first selection to an All-Star team with the Riptides, a team he has played with for three years.

The Tides were able to extend their season by entering two teams in a recent sand soccer tournament, held at Hampton’s Buckroe Beach. Asked about the experience, the younger Lebel noted that it was “fun.” Asked about the tiring effect of playing in the sand, he added that “my legs were sore, but it depends on how many games you have to play.”

Another highlight from the season was the Riptide’s involvement in the “Play on the Pitch” program, sponsored by D.C. United of the professional MLS league. As a participating team, the Riptides were able to play a scrimmage against a team from Northern Virginia on the same field which the United employs, the pitch at R.F.K. Stadium in southeast D.C. For P.J., the event was simply “awesome,” while coach Lebel remembered the RFK turf as “like walking on a carpet.”

With the season now complete, both father and son will enjoy a short break until fall practice, this time with the U-14 team, starts up at the beginning of August.