Erik Sterling is a well-known name within the Federal Way soccer community.

But the 25-year-old is hoping to make a name for himself outside of the city and the Decatur High School graduate is well on his way.

Sterling is one of 10 finalists in the Sounders FC Super Search, presented by Disney. The

“This will definitely be my last shot,” Sterling said on www.soundersfc.com. “So where do I go from here if it doesn’t work out for me?”

Seattle Sounders FC, Major League Soccer’s newest franchise who will start playing in March, hosted open tryouts in three Washington cities during the month of November, which included more than 600 participants. Sterling, a 2002 Decatur grad, was one of three players selected after a tryout at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila on Nov. 15.

The open tryouts were filmed for a reality-TV series, which aired on KING 5, KONG 6/16 and Northwest Cable News earlier this month. The final tryout will be broadcast on Feb. 1, following the Super Bowl on KING 5. Viewers will have the opportunity to narrow the finalists to three. A panel of judges will then determine the ultimate winner, who will be awarded a spot on the 2009 Sounders FC roster.

Fans can currently visit www.king5.com to view videos, bios and comments from evaluators for all 10 finalists. Fans may vote for their favorite player through Friday. The player with the most fan votes will be guaranteed a spot in the final vote.

The idea behind the Sounders FC Super Search came from the team’s majority owner, Joe Roth. He suggested the tryouts, which were based on a reality show on Spanish-language TV, where the winner got a contract with Chivas USA, another MLS team.

“Chivas USA has utilized the open tryout process very effectively,” said Sounders FC majority owner Joe Roth. “The 2007 winner plays for Chivas USA and the U.S. Under-20 National Team. We believe similar talent exists in the Northwest. ”

“We have a really incredible ownership group,” said Darren Sawatzky, Sounders FC director of youth development, who ran the tryout. “They understand marketing. They understand the excitement of finding that diamond in the rough.”

Sterling is a 5-foot-8, 156-pound midfield/forward, who currently lives in Des Moines. He played for the Federal Way United Thunder and Storm during his youth soccer days before starring at Decatur. During his tenure as a Gator, Sterling was part of Decatur’s back-to-back state championships in 2001 and 2002.

After graduating, Sterling went on to play at Yavapai Junior College in Arizona for one season in 2002 and led the Roughriders to a junior college national championship. He was named to the All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference/Region I First-Team after scoring nine goals and dishing out eight assists during his freshman year. But personal issues forced Sterling to give up college soccer.

“I was just battling different situations,” Sterling said. “I think I’m a lot better player than when I was 18, when I was playing in college,” Sterling said. “A lot smarter. A lot faster.”

After a four-year break from competitive soccer, Sterling started playing with the Tacoma Stars of the Premier Arena Soccer League in 2006.

According to Sawatzky, Sterling is a very fast midfield/forward player who can score goals.

“He has good vision and his technique is good under pressure,” he said. “Erik causes defenses trouble.”

Sawatzky is a Thomas Jefferson High School grad and coached the Raiders to their seventh state championship in 2004. He also played professionally in the MLS and several years with the Sounders after graduating from the University of Portland.

“Erik has a lot of the physical attributes to be a professional,” Sawatzky said. “He is also technically sound, which is difficult to find.”

For more information on the Sounders FC Super Search, visit www.soundersfc.com.