Max Sumner’s (11) journey in soccer began at just four years old. When he turned seven, he was dominating his opponents. From that young age, Sumner knew this was the sport for him.
Max Sumner is a third-year varsity player for the Ayala Men’s Soccer team, and this past season, he was the team’s point leader. As the Bulldogs head into their California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs, Sumner is hopeful he can do his part in helping his team win a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) title. During the Bulldogs’ first-round game against the Banning Broncos, Sumner had two goals to help the team win 3-0 and help them advance to the second round of the CIF playoffs against the Bishop Amat Lancers.
But to get to where Sumner is now, nothing was easy. Just like any other athlete, he had to face his own challenges in his soccer journey. In 2024, during his club team is national finals, Sumner would miss a crucial penalty kick which would lead to his team losing. But rather than hanging his head over the moment, he took the positives out of it and moved on.
“This taught me that the pain you feel is temporary, and the best thing you could do is use it as fuel to work harder the following season,” Sumner said.
A big piece of how Sumner has gotten to where he is now with his soccer journey is thanks to his biggest motivator: his dad. Sumner’s father has coached him since he was younger and has always done what was best for him. He credits his dad for his work ethic now as since a young age, he has always pushed me to my hardest.
Max has been a captain of the soccer team since his freshman year, showing the immediate impact he had on the team. Sumner utilizes his voice to get his guys on the same page and to help the team be as successful as possible. Through this, he is always listening to what his coach is asking for and takes the input with him into practices and games.
Sumner, only a junior, has already had many highs in his soccer career with still another year ahead of him. Max described his favorite moment so far of this season as his four-goal game against the Don Lugo Conquistadors.
“The feeling of scoring that many [goals] in a match is different,” Sumner said.
His goals for next season are to help his team win league while going undefeated for the third straight season. Along with this, he hopes he can win a CIF ring in the process of it all. His teammate Cruz Acosta (11) is just as excited to be able to play one more full season with Sumner and is hopeful the team can be as successful as possible.
“We still have another full season together next year, I am hoping to continue our success,” Acosta said.
After high school wraps up, Sumner would like to continue playing soccer at the Division I level at colleges such as the University of California, Santa Barbara, or any Division I program located in the San Diego area. With his already successful high school career, it will be worth watching where Sumner’s playing career ends up, as he is destined for big things in the future.
