Dillon Truscott used to be the “too-rowdy-to-be-normal” tyke from Santa Barbara, crawling from field to field to get into some sort of action.

His parents wisely got him hooked on soccer, which he’s played religiously from the time he started in California to today as a standout at Charles Wright Academy.

Truscott, a junior forward, scored an area-best 26 goals and was the leading force behind a Tarriers’ squad that went unbeaten during the regular season and advanced to the Class 1A quarterfinals with a host of new players. He is also The News Tribune’s 2009 All-Area boys soccer player of the year.

Sure, he has terrific natural ability – a booming leg, even for a teenager who stands 5-foot-7. He is a nifty dribbler. His passing is deft. And his vision for teammates has come along nicely.

“I recognized right from the beginning, Dillon has that unique quality of confidence, almost a cockiness, to take people on,” said Tony Chursky, the Charles Wright coach. “It’s a Ronaldo quality.”

Soccer is important. But as he’s demonstrated, it’s only part of his life.

“I think soccer, if you’d ask me to rank all the extracurricular things, is No. 1,” said Barton Truscott, Dillon’s father. “But he likes a lot of different things – guitar, drama, which floored me, and choir. He continues to surprise me.”

When the family moved into the area in 2000, Truscott joined the a couple of recreational teams in University Place, then spent two years in a select program called Juventus – named after the famed Italian soccer club – with Cory Barrett, his teammate at Charles Wright.

It was about that time he was ready to play for his high school team. And it was about that time he started hearing from club players all over that joining a 1A team was “a joke,” and that he should pick a high school based on its soccer brand.

“I love Charles Wright. Academics are very important to me,” he said. “And I love soccer, and the feeling I get on the field and being part of a team is great. But it’s just a game, and club soccer was taking it beyond any level it should have gone.”

Other endeavors have come into the fold. Consider:

 • Truscott got heavy into tennis, and he has been a three-year varsity member under his father-coach. This season, he was voted a team captain, and played much of the year at No. 1 singles before entering the postseason in doubles.

Had Truscott qualified to play this week in both sports – he and partner Chris Wong were one win away from the 1A tennis championships, and the Tarriers were upended by Seattle Academy, 2-1, in the 1A soccer quarterfinals – his commitment would have been to the tennis squad in Yakima.

“The last two years, he made it that far in tennis, and decided to go with us,” Barrett said. “We were pretty supportive of him .”

 • Last summer, Truscott decided to join the Tarriers’ summer basketball team, full of players who were part of the 1A-title winning squad in 2008.

Never having been on a basketball team, he practiced two nights a week, and played two games. He was asked to join the team in December, but declined because it interfered with jazz band and choir.

 • If Truscott found any spare time last summer, one more sport joined the fray – ultimate frisbee.

Every Thursday, he participated in an adult indoor league at Truman Middle School.

“I was the handler, which is kind of the quarterback of the team,” he said. “It was great, very fast-paced.”

Next spring, Truscott is expected to be a key contributor again for a seasoned Tarriers soccer team ready to make a run in the 1A ranks.

“It’s always about winning state,” Truscott said.

Todd Milles: 253-597-8442

todd.milles@thenewstribune.com

Player of the year: Dillon Truscott, Charles Wright Academy

Coach of the year: Steve Andersen, Franklin Pierce

FIRST TEAM

F: Dylan Gaydosh, junior, Stadium
Explosive threat (21 goals, 18 assists) was arguably best Narrows player, but yellow cards prevented MVP nod.

F: Miguel Gonzalez, junior, Yelm
His brother, Daniel, received top Western Cascade Conference billing, but this standout played on one healthy leg and still scored 19 goals.

F: Justin Moore, senior, South Kitsap
Fleet-footed player creates natural separation from defenders (17 goals). Co-Narrows MVP signed with Western Washington.

F: Ugo Okoli, sophomore, Beamer
Despite facing constant double teams, this speedy SPSL South MVP led area 4A in scoring (22 goals, nine assists).

F: Andrew Weishaar, junior, Puyallup
Committed? Two-time SPSL South selection once suggested holding rained-out practice in a parking lot. Scored 16 goals.

MF: James Hoag, senior, Franklin Pierce
Three-time all-SPSL 3A playmaker (eight goals, seven assists) plays wherever Cardinals need him, including defender.

MF: K.C. Phillips, junior, Stadium
Patient ball distributor is calming influence (11 goals, 15 assists). Co-Narrows MVP is headed to Seattle University.

MF: Sean Tollan, junior, Rogers
Leg injury limited him in 2008, but not this season (13 goals, 11 assists) in helping Rams to third SPSL South title.

MF: Casey Woodruff, senior, Steilacoom
A creative attacker, Nisqually 2A MVP (15 goals) was one of three seniors to lead young group to league championship.

D: Colin Ip, senior, Bellarmine Prep
Intelligent decision-maker and rugged stopper blanketed area’s best scorers, giving up just one goal.

D: Dhavan Vengadasalam, senior, Auburn Mountainview
Defensive MVP of SPSL 3A’s work rate was biggest reason Lions went from last to runner-up in league. Going to Whitman.

GK: Eric Owen, sophomore, Stadium
Young player has an advanced feel of the game. Also a physical presence that’s hard to score on (gave up five goals).

BEST OF THE REST

Forwards: Jameal Cox, Stadium, Jr.; Daniel Gonzalez, Yelm, Soph.; Jordan Savage, Enumclaw, Sr.; Ben Trahan, Rogers, Jr.

Midfielders: Scott Hansen, Bellarmine Prep, Jr.; Chase Hanson, Jefferson, Sr.; Drew Landram, Kentlake, Sr.; Troy Peterson, Beamer, Soph.; Brandon Scott, Wilson, Sr.

Defenders: Bryan Hall, Stadium, Sr.; Taylor Jackson, Auburn, Sr.

Goalkeeper: Paul Root, White River, Sr.

Todd Milles, The News Tribune