Wil Trapp sat in the Mapfre Stadium stands as a wide-eyed, 7-year-old watching the MLS All-Star Game in 2000.
As an ambitious kid who always wanted to compete at the next level, seeing the league’s best players, including Crew SC forward Brian McBride, inspired him.
Next week, the Gahanna native will enjoy a similar experience.
Trapp, a holding midfielder for Crew SC, was named to his first MLS All-Star team on Sunday afternoon. He’s one of 26 league stars who will face perennial English Premier League contender Arsenal on July 28 in San Jose, California.
“It’s more personal because you are representing your club at this event, and I just happen to have more of an intimate relationship with my club than most guys,” said Trapp, who played at Lincoln High School.