Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Zak Naylor of Anchorage is definitely paying his dues as he begins his rookie season of professional soccer.

His biggest sacrifice hasn’t come on the field, though.

“I am currently working the graveyard shift at 24 Hour Fitness and then I go straight to practice at 6:30 in the morning,” Naylor told me. “It makes for quite a day the next day, but I gotta do what I can.”

The 22-year-old will soon begin his rookie season with the Portland Spartans of the National Premier Soccer League. The season kicks off next weekend in California.

“I’m pretty excited to be playing for this pro team,” said Naylor, who wrapped up his college career at Concordia University. “This is the first step in what’s next for me.”

Naylor, of South High fame, has always been a scorer and produced 7 goals and 20 points in 34 games in two years at Concordia. Before that he was at Edmonds Community College, where he delivered 18 goals.

Over the winter he played in an indoor league and played a little defense to expand his overall game. He also scored a few goals too.

After the season Naylor was accepted into a pro combine through Orix Soccer Agency that takes places the last week of June. There will be a dozen professional coaches from Europe on hand to scout the players at the combine.

“I am buzzing about this opportunity,” Naylor said.

He works with a personal trainer three days a week in addition to working out on his own two other days.

“I am doing all that I can to be in the best shape possible come June,” Naylor said. “I hope to be playing over in Europe come August.”