Keeping step with Kimi Smuckler reveals fast feet and proud identity
'My parents taught me and my brothers to be proud of our Jewish identity. And school makes sure that we're proud to be Jewish also'
Kimi Smuckler’s fast feet are taking her across the globe. Smuckler’s talent and perspective will make her shine.
The Community Day School student-athlete is headed to Barcelona at the end of the month to compete with the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team. Before venturing to the airport — Smuckler, 13, was on her way to a separate tournament in California — she told the Chronicle that traveling abroad is an opportunity to represent Pittsburgh and the Jewish people.
“It just makes me really proud,” she said.
Since the age of seven, the Jewish day school student has played competitive futsal. Similar to soccer, the game typically occurs indoors on a hard surface, like a basketball court, with five players on each side.
Smuckler was drawn to the sport because “it seemed really fun and would help me with my technical ability,” she said.
Lest one think the teen is a single-sport athlete, think again. Smuckler also plays soccer.
Futsal is a winter activity; soccer is a fall sport, so the two are mutually beneficial, she said.
At school, Smuckler plays soccer for CDS’ mixed team — a group she boasts has been undefeated for four years. Outside of class, the teen also plays for Beadling Soccer Club, a competitive group whose origins date back more than 100 years.
Smuckler takes her sports seriously, as evidenced by her journey to make the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team. Three years ago, she tried to make the squad. She was cut.
“I was really upset, but I worked really hard after that,” she said.
Smuckler, a middle school student at the time, did hill sprints for conditioning and exercises for technique.
Every day, Smuckler performed 5,000 touches, she said.
The repetitions helped her develop mastery and ball control.
When the trials came along one year after she was cut, Smuckler sat the competition out.
“I wasn’t sure that I was ready,” she said.
Smuckler returned to her hills and drills in an effort to keep training. Months ago, she arrived in Kansas City, Missouri, ready for redemption.
“I was really happy that I did because it really showed all of my hard work,” she said.
Smuckler impressed the coaches and was selected to join the national squad.
Making the team after experiencing a setback demonstrated “courage and positivity,” she said.
“I really think it showed resilience. Even though I was upset and down, I feel like I pushed through because I was determined to make it.”
Smuckler said she’s the only Jewish person on the national team.
Being the lone landsman in Spain will differ from what she’s slated to experience this summer.
After competing in Philadelphia months ago, Smuckler earned a spot with Maccabi USA U16 Soccer at the 2025 World Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Smuckler is eager to arrive in the Jewish state alongside fellow Jewish teenage soccer players — even if she is slightly younger than her peers.
“I wasn’t actually age eligible,” she said. “They made an exception for me.”
Being younger than her teammates is scary but also kind of cool, she explained.
“Overall, it makes me really proud,” she said. “I just think that’s what I can do. That’s where my standards are.”
As her teammates and coaches know, Smuckler is a great athlete. She’s also a talented student.
“I really like doing math,” she told the Chronicle. “It’s really fun to solve problems.”
Whether on the board, in a notebook or on a screen, “you never really know what’s coming after, and you just have to solve the problem.” she continued. “You can’t stop in the middle of it because then you will never find out the answer.”
Casey Weiss, head of school at CDS, told the Chronicle she’s amazed at Smuckler’s “prowess in life.”
“I cannot wait to see what she accomplishes,” Weiss said.
In math class, on an indoor court or in a remote field, Smuckler maintains the same approach.
And with each accomplishment, attention grows.
Smuckler said she’s aware of it and wants people to know about her identity, and theirs.
“I think everybody should just be proud to be Jewish,” she said. “My parents taught me and my brothers to be proud of our Jewish identity. And school makes sure that we’re proud to be Jewish also.”
Smuckler’s message needs little follow-up, her mother Elizabeth Chow told the Chronicle.
“I think she can articulate it pretty well as a 13-year-old,” Chow said. “She’s proud of who she is, and I think she takes that with her where she goes. And that’s really nice as a parent to see.” PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchonicle.org.
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