Before his high school career began, Eric Stiles knew he wanted to play soccer at the collegiate level.
The Columbus East senior realized that dream recently when he committed to play at Belmont University in the fall.
“I’m extremely excited,” Stiles said. “I’ve been looking forward to this since I was a freshman, even younger.”
Stiles put together a stellar career for the Olympians, capped by a senior season that yielded Hoosier Hills Conference, sectional and regional championships. He scored 12 goals last fall and was named The Republic Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Stiles also became the first East player to be named to the United Soccer Coaches Fall Boys High School All-Region Team for the Great Lakes Region.
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After playing a defensive midfield spot for the Olympians for most of his career, Stiles played center midfield as a senior. He was playing a holding midfield spot for his Alliance club team in its first three tournaments this spring, but club soccer in Indiana was canceled last week because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“(Belmont) said they needed defenders coming in, possibly defensive midfielders or holding midfielders,” Stiles said. “Whatever coach (David Costa) says, I’ll be ready to do.”
Stiles is receiving an academic scholarship from Belmont, a Division I school in Nashville, Tennessee. He had athletic offers from Division II University of Indianapolis and Southern Indiana.
“It’s not fully based on the soccer aspect,” Stiles said. “The culture of the college, the culture of the team, it just fit me. It just fit right. The coaches on that team run the team more like a family than a business. They care about you. They care about winning, but it’s family first.”
Stiles visited Belmont in early February and went back for camp in early March. A week later, he was offered a spot on the team.
Although he is undecided on a major, Stiles said he likely would study something in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) field.
Since Indiana schools closed for rest of the academic year, Stiles and other East students are doing e-learning on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“It’s something new,” Stiles said. “It’s not an ideal situation for senior year for any students out there, but at least it’s only three days a week.”
With the school facilities closed, Stiles has been working at home on workouts provided by Belmont soccer and by East strength coach Scott Pherson.
“I’ve been doing all the workouts they’ve been giving me at home for strength and fitness and getting as many touches (on the soccer ball) as I can, sometimes just dribbling in my room,” Stiles said.
