Iqaluit (July 05/04) - Levi Eegeesiak Jr. was kicking a deflated soccer ball in the warm sun outside Nakasuk school last week.

Of course, the way Eegeesiak was kicking it, you would never know the sorry state of that blue and white ball from a distance .

Levi Eegeesiak Jr. was recently named Athlete of the Year in Iqaluit. - Kathleen Lippa/NNSL photo

This 18-year-old has an ease out on the soccer pitch that comes from years of practice, natural talent, and a sincere love of the game.

"Someone stole my soccer ball, so my girlfriend gave me this one," explained the shy teen who was recently named Athlete of the Year by Inuksuk high school.

In a ceremony at his school last week, Eegeesiak, who just graduated from Grade 12, also had his name engraved on trophies for top male basketball player and weightlifting.

He admits he finds it a little daunting to be recognized in front of the whole school.

While sports is his forte, Eegeesiak said his biggest fear in life is public speaking.

"Getting up there and speaking in front of a big crowd? I can't do that," he said with a laugh.

Eegeesiak described himself as a "crazy" kid when he was younger, always getting into trouble at school.

Diagnosed with a learning disability while still in elementary school, Eegeesiak's parents, Joamie and Levi Sr., made sure he kept going to school. They got him the help he needed to succeed academically, while he clearly excelled at sports.

There is no denying the positive influence sports has had on his life.

He started playing soccer in Grade 7. Before that, he was one of those Iqaluit kids kicking a soccer ball around late into the night.

Other sports, including weightlifting, captured his interest.

But there was something about soccer that appealed to him the most.

"Playing fair, playing as a team, giving your all," is how he thinks of soccer.

Born and raised in Iqaluit, Eegeesiak never played soccer on real grass until the summer of 2001, when he attended a summer soccer camp with friends in Saskatchewan.

In 2002 he played in the Arctic Winter Games. He says his dream is to become a professional soccer player.

"I want to play over there, in the east -- in England, or the Netherlands."

With soccer's Euro 2004 on right now, Eegeesiak is glued to his TV set most days.

Now all he needs is a new soccer ball and it will be a very good summer indeed.