MARYSVILLE — Twelve-year-old Kaleb Gallo has played football for the past eight years.

As a seventh grader at Cedarcrest Middle School, Gallo played football for both the Arena Youth Football League and for the Marysville Youth Football League.

“He plays football all year long,” his dad Kevin Gallo said.

Football plays an important part in Kaleb’s life. When he was selected to play on Football University Team Seattle’s seventh-grade team, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I’m really excited,” Kaleb said. “I have never played in this big of an event.”

Kaleb currently plays center on Team Seattle’s offensive line, a team that is edging its way closer to the FBU National Championship.

FBU initially started out with 64 teams in its bracket, Team Seattle has made it to the final four. Kaleb’s team has shown tremendous potential to win the FBU National Championship. “They said our [offensive] line is going to take us all the way to the championships,” Kevin said. “They have gotten all the way to the final four.”

As of Dec. 28, Team Seattle has defeated four teams, with its most recent win being a 28-7 victory against Orange County on Dec. 15.

Kaleb’s upcoming game will be part of another elimination round in San Antonio, Texas, against Iowa on Jan. 3. If they defeat Iowa, they will play for the Championships on Jan. 5.

Kaleb was discovered by FBU when his dad was coaching his son’s arena football team against another team whose coach was also the head coach for FBU. Kevin said Kaleb was described as phenomenal by Coach Robert Mason of FBU Seattle.

Kaleb hopes that playing for FBU will develop his football career. “I hope I can get a scholarship,” Kaleb said.

Also advancing his football skills, Kaleb, hopes to represent his hometown, MYFL and AYFL. “I want to represent a good league on where I come from,” he said.

Kaleb’s dad, who coaches both of the Marysville football teams his son plays on, was equally excited for Kaleb’s chance to play on an all-star team.

“I think its great because there’s no other kids from Marysville,” Kevin said. “He was hand selected.”

Kevin believes that with Kaleb being selected as a prospect from Marysville, that is meaningful based on the city’s geographic local. “A lot of players are from down south,” he said. “They’ve finally branched out into smaller communities.”

With Kaleb representing the Marysville area, Kevin thinks this will allow other local kids to be recognized by FBU in the future.

“Maybe this is a chance for them to look at all the other kids from Marysville,” Kevin said. “He’s giving these other kids a chance to get on this team next year.”

FBU Seattle’s eighth-grade team features a player from Arlington, Gabe Green, as well as Grant Thomas from Marysville, players Kevin also coached.

Since Kaleb was selected to play on an FBU team, he has had the opportunity to work with other elite players. Kaleb stands 5-foot-9 but plays with much larger players.

“Kaleb is the smallest lineman in the seventh grade,” Kevin said. “These kids are 6-foot-2 and weigh 255.”

Though smaller compared to his other teammates, Kaleb performs just as well, executing key plays as a blocker. When the ball is snapped, Kaleb believes his team performs best in the running plays.

“With the line we have, we do really well on running plays,” he said. “we are really fast and strong.”

Kevin is grateful for the coaching staff his son works with. “His coaching staff is phenomenal,” Kevin said. “I’ve coached him since he was five years old and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

For more information on FBU Team Seattle’s progress in the playoffs, visit their website at www.fbunc.com/teams/west/seattle for their schedule, roster, and coaching staff. For information regarding Football University visit www.footballuniversity.org/seattle.

Team Seattle is also accepting donations for traveling expenses at www.gofundme.com/5urba0.