“I just remember the first time I met Reese.”
This is Hunter Sulte’s professional origin story. Reese is Steve Reese, the current goalkeeping coach for the Portland Timbers’ Academy. It’s four-and-a-half years ago, when Sulte’s only 13 years old.
“It was at the Alaska Dome,” the Anchorage native remembers, “which is where we played in the winter because of the snow. For three days, [Reese] came and coached our [Olympic Development Program] session, and after three days, he [said], 'I want you to come down and join Portland.'”
Then came the proof it was all real.