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3 OC girls soccer standouts lose eligibility because of in-season trip organized by pro team

January 23, 2025

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Peyton Trayer of Santa Margarita, Zamorah Malinoski of Los Alamitos and Kai Tsakiris of Corona del Mar will be ineligible for the remainder of the girls soccer season because of their participation in a training camp in Brazil organized by a professional team, the CIF Southern Section stated Wednesday.

The players, all of whom are juniors and committed to colleges, departed earlier this month with other players on the trip organized by the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League.

The trip aimed to show the players competitive training, a professional environment and introduce the Current’s style of play, Kansas City Current general manager Caitlin Carducci said in a letter in support of the SoCal players.

Los Alamitos junior and Alabama commit Zamorah Malinoski scored three goals in a 4-0 victory against Corona del Mar last week. The Griffins, ranked No 7 in Orange County this week, play at No. 6 Huntington Beach in the Sunset League Jan. 16. (Courtesy of Zamorah Malinoski)

For Trayer, Malinoski and Tsakiris, the trip during their high school season violates CIF bylaw 605 titled “professional tryout,” stated Thom Simmons, a section assistant commissioner and spokesperson.

The rule states, “A student shall become ineligible for CIF competition if he/she participates in any tryout for a professional team in any CIF-approved sport during the high school season of sport. The season of sport for a school is that period of time that elapses between the first interscholastic contest and the final contest in that particular sport.”

In the Southern Section rule book, the bylaw is accompanied with the following question:

“May a student participate in an invitation-only practice, ID camp, or clinic that is sponsored, co-sponsored, or involving a professional sports team/organization during their high school season of sport? Answer: No. A student may not participate in an invitation-only practice, ID camp, or clinic that is sponsored, co-sponsored, or involving aprofessional sports team/organization during the high school season of sport.”

A violation of the rule makes the players ineligible for the remainder of this high school season, Simmons stated. He added that the section is aware of the Brazil trip and has answered questions about eligibility to the parents of the players.

“(The trip) would be violations of Bylaw 605,” Simmons stated in an email. “They would not have eligibility to continue participating with their high school in the CIF for the 2024-2025 season.”

Carducci stated in her letter that the trip was not a “tryout with a professional team” but a “development opportunity” for the players.

“We do not want to cause any strife within the soccer landscape in California, but rather, we just want to provide youth women with the opportunity to be exposed to what the soccer environment at future levels is like,” Carducci wrote. “We are very willing to work with the CIF.”

Trayer’s father, Greg, expressed several concerns with the high school ramifications of the trip.

“The rule is outdated,” he said, “and it’s inconsistently enforced.”

“I know (Peyton) is very disappointed,” he added. “She feels bad for her coaches and teammates.”

Trayer, a goalie who is committed to reigning national champion North Carolina, helped Santa Margarita claim the CIF-SS Division 1 title in 2023 and two CIF SoCal Regional Division I championships. She was CIF-SS player of the year as a freshman.

The Eagles are ranked No. 1 in Orange County.

Malinoski, who is committed to Alabama, helped the Griffins reach the Division 1 final in 2023. She scored a hat trick in one of her matches before leaving for Brazil. Los Alamitos is ranked No. 6 in the county.

Tsakiris is committed to Florida.

Corona del Mar coach Bryan Middleton, whose team is 12-4, declined comment Wednesday night. Los Alamitos coach Pat Rossi didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

“I think it puts a huge asterisk next to the whole season when teams aren’t playing with their full rosters,” Santa Margarita coach Craig Bull said of the situation. “(Trayer) loves high school soccer. She wants to play.”

The Current’s ownership group includes Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany.

3 OC girls soccer standouts lose eligibility because of in-season trip organized by pro team Orange County Register

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3 OC girls soccer standouts lose eligibility because of in-season trip organized by pro team

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