Xander Reifler has a motor unlike most soccer players – he seems to never stop and is always in on the action. What also makes the Pioneer senior special on the soccer field is his skill level – he can dribble and pass with the best players in the SEC and he has a canon for a shot. This relentless determination coupled with great soccer skills makes him a special talent and one of the keys to Pioneers’ success this season.
Let’s kick the ball back to the beginning.
“I started playing soccer at the age of 6 when my parents signed me up for Rec League soccer,” he said. “It wasn’t really until I was 7 when I actually started following teams and enjoying the sport. I really liked the way Messi played when I first started watching. The way he dribbled and passed looked so simple and I wanted to replicate it.”
While no one is Messi, Reifler has done a good job emulating his hero and has worked hard at improving his game. He plays the sport year round including with his club team, the Michigan Tigers. He is currently playing for the Michigan Tigers 07 Boys Gold team.
“For me, the biggest highlights of playing at club have been winning state championships, as well as the National Championships,” he said.
Winning is something the 17-year-old is used to, including the last few years in high school. He has been playing for Coach Jon Sundermann and the Pioneers since his sophomore year. “I didn’t actually play high school soccer my freshman year because my club was doing a full year thing, similar to MLS NEXT programs where we aren’t allowed to play high school soccer at the same time.”
Reifler continues to get better every year but with individual skill and being a good teammate and leader.
“Since my freshman year, I have improved my ability to scan the field and deal with pressure, as well as my shooting from distance,” he said. “I mostly practice my position and tactical understanding by watching games as well as playing Fifa.”
All the hard work is paying off. Pioneer’s center midfielder is having an outstanding season.
“We were really good last year,” says Reifler, who was All-District Honorable Mention last season. “The way we finished was very disappointing, however. I just think with the team we had, we should have won more.
“The team goal this year is to win Districts. Even though the season started with only 3 wins and 5 losses, I think that we’ll be able to accomplish our goal if we can pull ourselves together as a team, silence the outside noise, and just play soccer.”
Pioneer is learning on the fly this season.
“The team this year is much less experienced than the team was last year,” Reifler says. “Since I am one of the only players on the team that has played on it for more than two seasons, I was named captain with the goal of mentoring the younger players and hopefully building a team that will be able to win for years to come.”
Xander is the son of Tammy and Aaron Reifler and is kicking around a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. He also is co-president of the Asian Youth Club at Pioneer High School. Outside of soccer, he is interested in kinesiology and physical therapy, and what he can do to help people with their physical endeavors.
“I would love to still play soccer in college,” he says of taking his impressive game to the next level. “I have been reached out to by schools like Detroit Mercy and Olivet, but I’m not really interested in pursuing them because they don’t have the majors I want. My main goal is to get into Michigan’s School of Kinesiology, play club at U-M, and potentially walk on.”
And with his motor and skill level, anything is possible.
