Local fans cheer on hometown soccer star in World Cup

DE PERE - As people around the world gathered to watch the World Cup, some folks in De Pere were cheering on an old teammate.

People came together at Legends in De Pere to watch Green Bay's Jay DeMerit in the starting line-up of the U-S soccer team. Those who used to play with DeMerit say it gives the games a little more excitement. Although they never pictured him getting to this level.

"I was in shock at first, but then after seeing him and thinking about, it made a lot of sense. He's always been a physical player, he's able to put pressure on people. He's a great athlete," said Jon Bootz, who played with DeMerit in high school.

DeMerit played soccer at Bay Port High School, and then went on to play in college at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He later joined football clubs in England before returning to the United States.

Team USA tied in England 1-1 in its first game of the World Cup in South Africa.