South Georgia - In The Game High School Sports Magazine

When most 14-year-olds mention dreams of becoming a professional athlete, it’s usually more wishful thinking than anything else. But there’s something different about Pine Grove Middle School soccer player Christopher Schenk. Though he’s just 14, he has life experiences of someone much older, and he plays soccer with the poise and maturity of a seasoned veteran.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Christopher has played all over the world for 11 of his 14 years.  Both of his parents are in the Air Force and have moved around quite a bit. Their moves included a stint in Germany, which gave Christopher invaluable experience on the pitch. The Schenks came to Valdosta three years ago and hope to remain in Lowndes County for an extended period of time. “We’re trying to call Valdosta home. It’s a good place to raise a family,” says Christopher’s father, Rob.

Christopher has a real passion for soccer, a passion and drive to succeed that is seldom seen in athletes so young. First of all, he truly loves the game. Both of his parents played soccer, and his father taught him how to play. Soccer is also one of the few constants in his life. Christopher has traveled extensively, and even when his family has settled down, he’s often had to make do with at least one – and sometimes both – of his parents absent.

Christopher’s parents have each been deployed overseas. When In The Game spoke with Christopher, his mother was serving outside of the U.S. in a classified location. In November, his father will be deployed again. “Once, he didn’t see his mother for 11 months,” says Rob. At one point, both parents were deployed at the same time. Through those challenging times, soccer was always there for him, and Christopher poured himself into the sport. His work ethic is second to none, and he has developed a keen sense of what is going on in front of him. “He handles the separation as well as any 14-year-old could. Soccer helps him through. It’s always going on, and it helps him pass the time,” says Rob.

Christopher is primarily a keeper on his South Georgia United club team. This year, he is also playing on Pine Grove Middle’s soccer team. Pine Grove is a new school; previously, Christopher played with Hahira Middle. “He has all the athletic tools to be a great keeper. He’s a good striker, too. He’s a vocal leader on the field, constantly talking and trying to keep the team organized,” says his club coach, John Romaine.

The 5’8”, 140-pounder has excellent reflexes, good speed and a good vertical. Christopher knows how to read his opponents, and he’s studying the opposing player’s body language as he drives toward the goal. Christopher wants to take as much guesswork as possible out of where the shot is  going.

He finds that many players, particularly those who play in middle school, telegraph their shots with their body language or eyes. “Most of the time, people give away where the shot is going. I try to pick up on that,” he says. Last season, Christopher recorded four clean sheets. This year, he would like to have even more. His schedule with Pine Grove began on January 18.

The middle school season lasts 10 games. The rest of the year, he travels the Southeast with the United. For 2010, the United, a regional team that attracts players from Bainbridge, Tifton, Moultrie, Valdosta, Ray City and other communities, will play in the Classic II division, the second-highest classification. The team plays throughout Georgia and has traveled beyond the state line for tournament play. At the Disney International Cup at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex this past summer, the United faced a difficult game against Esporte Clube Pinheiros from Brazil. Coach Romaine remembers this game as one of Christopher’s best. The United won 2-1, and Christopher made three brilliant saves near the end of the game to preserve the win.

Think about every superlative out there, and you can apply just about every one of them to Christopher. He plays well under pressure, he understands soccer and knows how it should be played, he works hard, won’t quit and doesn’t make any excuses. Christopher also has a firm grasp of the fundamentals of both the game in general and his position in particular. Coach Romaine credits that to his time in Germany. “I’ve coached him for three years now. When he came to us, he was very technically sound. He was 10 years old, and the basic technical skills were already there. That’s been a big advantage – our club is very technical,” says Coach Romaine.

Christopher has what it takes to play at the next level. The athleticism is already in place, but so are the intangibles – the work ethic, strong mental skills, the focus. “Oh yeah, he can play at the next level,” says Romaine.

That’s good news for Christopher. His long-term goal is to play professionally. Soccer is one of those sports that has several different paths to the pro level; teams can pull talent from clubs, colleges or academies. Christopher has his eyes on a more traditional approach to a pro contract. “I would like to play college soccer, though I’m not sure where,” says Christopher. He has a few years to decide; after all, he’s not even in high school yet.

The pitch isn’t the only place where Christopher excels. He’s an Honor Roll student, and he’s always been focused on making good grades. He says his parents encourage him to do well in the classroom, and he must be strong academically in order to play soccer. His favorite subject is math, particularly algebra, and the engineering field interests him. When asked why he likes engineering, he just laughed and replied, “It sounds cool.”

Christopher has every excuse not to do well. One or both of his parents are usually gone. He’s at that awkward age when a young man needs his parents. Many teens take their energy and channel it into negative activities when they face the kind of adversity that Christopher deals with on a daily basis. Christopher, however, has chosen to direct his attention to something beneficial, an activity that could provide him with a future in any one of a number of different areas. The result is a well-rounded, grounded student-athlete with a keen insight into both his sport and his situation. Christopher also understands that things should hopefully change soon – and for the better. His mother will be close to retirement when she returns to the states. Following Rob’s deployment in November, he will also be near retirement. The family hopes to settle down in Valdosta and be together once again.

In the meantime, Christopher will do what he’s always done. He’s going to study and play soccer. “He’s an all-around great kid. He never says ‘Never,’ and he doesn’t quit,” says Coach Romaine. •