Valley-native Tate Schmitt described feeling “ecstatic” to be joining Phoenix Rising on a season-long loan from Real Salt Lake.
The defender, who previously played under and alongside Rick Schantz and Jon Bakero respectively with FC Tucson, had singled out Rising as the club he hoped to join as soon as plans to send him on loan to the second tier arose.
“I was in talk with some other teams,” Schmitt said. “Things fell through with another USL team for me not to go there, and then I had my agent reach out to Phoenix Rising.
“After hearing that they were interested, I was ecstatic. [I’m] very excited to be able to play in the hometown where I grew up.”
Schmitt is the second locally-raised player on a professional deal with the club this season, after left-back Ryan Flood joined from FC Arizona. Flood has started all six of Rising’s games this season, and to Schmitt, that local representation on the team is important.
“I think it’s big time,” he said. “It kind of just shows the quality of players that can come out of Phoenix and Arizona, as well as just the foundation of development they have for players here in Arizona. All around, from January to December, just the ability for players to be able to play soccer in the warm climate, I think it really helps.
“You can see how there’s so many players: me, Ryan Flood, guys like Josh Drack, Brooks Lennon, there’s a list of guys, that there is the path. It’s very different for a lot of different players, but I think the amount of players the state of Arizona and especially Phoenix are developing is just a testament to what future players can achieve and dream of.”
Now, he’s ready for a new challenge. After spending most of his professional career out wide as a winger or full-back, Schmitt has spent the last few months training to play as a left-sided center-back.
“I’m ready,” Schmitt said. “The past three months that I’ve been playing the left center-back role at Real Salt Lake, I have three roomates that I lived with that are right now the back line of RSL: Andrew Brody, Justen Glad and Aaron Herrera. Just having that relationship and communicating with them and learning the position has made it very easy for me.”
Competing for that center-back spot would require James Musa – who was described by his coach as the best in the league in his position just over a week ago – to either be dropped or moved into another role. Schmitt believes that this is the position the team has in mind for him, but that his versatility provides him the chance to get minutes elsewhere as well.
“As of right now, I think that’s where they’re maybe seeing me, but also the left-back role as well,” Schmitt said. “But it’s also week-to-week. Whatever best suits the team. What team we’re going up against. What style of play we want to go, what gameplan we have in mind. So it just opens up windows for me to come in at different spots [and] different moments.”
With top players ahead of him, and the team already off to a solid start, Schmitt may have his work cut out to break into the side. It’s a challenge he relishes.
“It’s going to be a battle for playing time and spots because the guys that are already there in those spots have been stellar and doing well,” Schmitt said. “I think it’s just going to raise the level of everyone.”
“I think it’s been great, that competititve atmosphere, that guys need to be showing it in training to make sure they earn their spot. It’s just going to push the quality and environment of the team as a whole, and that will help us long-term going into playoff time.”
Rising faces Tacoma Defiance at Wild Horse Pass on Saturday, kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
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