At halftime of Monday night’s soccer clash between Byrnes and Wade Hampton, the head referee and the side judge walked off the pitch during the break.
The side judge looked toward the head referee and laughed.
“You see blue [Byrnes] number 21? Are we sure he’s not playing the wrong sport?”
Of course, that number 21 in Byrnes blue was junior Tre’ Segarra. He’d just scored a breakaway goal right before half to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead.
Looking at Segarra on the field, it’d be easy to pose the same question asked by Monday night’s referees. Segarra stands at 5’11 and 210 pounds of strictly muscle. On the pitch, players bounce off the junior striker like rubber against concrete.
But he’s not playing the wrong sport. In fact, Segarra is playing the very sport that was his first love as a child.
“I started playing soccer when I was three years old,” said Segarra after Monday’s match. “As soon as I could walk, I was dribbling a soccer ball. I fell in love early with the game, and just the feeling of knowing I can be someone people rely on to score goals.”
Segarra is playing his final season of soccer as a junior. He scored two goals in Byrnes' 4-3 win over Wade Hampton on Monday. The Rebels are 6-2 in region play and tied for first in 5-A 2.
Segarra did that twice on Monday night, bagging two goals as he led Byrnes to a 4-3 region win over the Generals.
But like he’s been after most matches this season, Segarra was reflective after the match. He’s taking every atmosphere and away stadium in a little extra this year.
Although Segarra is just a junior, this is his final year playing soccer — his last run competing in the game that taught him to love sports.
Segarra, who is a 4-star RB football prospect, hasn’t made a final decision about where he will play collegiately. The college football world is certainly his oyster, as the junior has over 25 offers from the top schools in the country. That includes programs like Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Indiana, and Penn State.
But there is one thing Segarra has decided on. He will graduate early in December next year as a senior, forgoing his final season of soccer in the spring.
Segarra is a 4-star running back with over 25 Power Four college football offers.
“I’ve been playing soccer all my life, so what’s it going to feel like not having that anymore? I don’t know,” said Segarra. “But the good thing is, I won’t have too much time on my hands playing Division 1 football. But it’s going to be a change for sure.”
When Segarra’s stock began to skyrocket as a freshman for Byrnes football, some wondered if he would continue playing soccer or devote his time solely to the gridiron. But for Segarra, there was never really a question.
He was always going to ride it out with soccer until he couldn’t take it any further.
“Tre’ is just such a quality guy and quality teammate and quality player,” said Byrnes soccer head coach Joe Campbell. “Especially with all the pressure on him. He has people every day, everywhere he goes, asking where he’s going to play college football. He’s got to keep up his social media presence… It’s this huge weight that he’s done a really great job of handling.
“And we’re thankful that he’s stuck with us and been a part of the most successful class in Byrnes soccer history. But we know this is it for him. So we’re treating him like a senior.”
In every way.
Segarra was named a captain this year. He has a senior banner hanging up next to Nixon Field. On April 22 against Woodmont, Segarra will be honored on senior night, walking onto the field with his parents, who helped foster his love for soccer from an early age.
Segarra has been playing soccer since he was a boy. He calls the sport his "first love" and says ever since he could walk, he was dribbling a soccer ball.
He’s counting down his final days with his first love.
Segarra’s goal? To make the absolute most of the soccer time he has left.
“The first thing I wanted to do this year was to play every game,” said Segarra. “I’m on the way to doing that. And I want to make a run in the playoffs. Obviously, that’s everyone’s goal their senior year. But it would mean a lot to me.
“With this being my last year playing soccer, something I’ve done since a really young age, I want to make it last.”
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