Columbus North goalkeeper Max Grewe stops a ball during the regional semifinals at Center Grove Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Columbus North boys soccer had a solid returning goalkeeper in senior Oscar Ballinas, but just before practice began in August, the Bull Dogs received an added bonus.
Max Grewe, a 6-foot-3 exchange student from Germany, brought with him some goalkeeping experience and has provided a complement to Ballinas in the net for North. Together, the pair have combined to help the Bull Dogs reach the state’s final four in Class 3A.
“(Grewe’s arrival) was honestly kind of a surprise for me,” Ballinas said. “I wasn’t really expecting it, but I think it benefited me. It pushed me to become a better player. I had to improve in some skills and some areas.”
For most of the games this season, Ballinas and Grewe have each played a half in goal. In the postseason, it’s been Ballinas playing the first half and Grewe the second half.
Head coach Andy Glover has left the goalkeeping rotation decisions up to goalkeepers coach David Green.
“I think it’s working out really great for us,” Ballinas said. “It’s something that coach Green has put out for us.”
Oscar Ballinas of Columbus North, left, stops a ball during Saturday’s regional against Floyd Central at Bloomington South.
The Republic file photo
Ballinas is a former field player who moved to goalkeeper last season following the graduation of Colvin Iorio and an injury to Iorio’s brother Lukas. Grewe also has played all over the field growing up before moving to goalkeeper four or five years ago.
Grewe arrived in Columbus five days before school started this year.
“I just signed up for (an exchange) program, and my host family here picked me, so I’m here,” Grewe said. “I had a few calls before with my host family, and they asked me if I wanted to do school sports, and I said, ‘I would like to play soccer.’”
“Max has certainly been a welcomed addition,” Glover added. “We’ve had varied results with exchange students, and Max just happens to be a fantastic young man and a fine soccer player.”
Grewe, 16, is considered a junior at North, but has two more years of high school to complete in Germany. He has enjoyed American high school soccer.
“I really like it because it’s bigger than in Germany,” Grewe said. “In Germany, you only play club futbol, and it’s just for like a few people, and you don’t represent your whole school. I thought I would play soccer (at North), but I didn’t really know how good the team was and how it all worked with the tournament and all that. But it’s great. It’s about the team and winning.”
Columbus North goalkeeper Oscar Ballinas (1) goes up to make a save as Franklin’s Jace Patterson (9) tries to head the ball at the Roncalli Sectional final on Saturday Oct. 8, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Grewe and Ballinas combined for a shutout in Saturday’s 5-0 win against Floyd Central in the Bloomington South Regional final. This Saturday, they’ll look for another clean sheet when the 3A No. 4 Bull Dogs (18-1-1) play Cathedral (10-7-5) in the semistate at Seymour.
“It’s going to be a tough match, but I see us pushing through,” said Ballinas, who is considering playing in college and is looking at Franklin, Anderson and Heidelberg.
Glover is pleased to have a formidable tandem approach to keeping opponents off the scoreboard.
“They’ve both been doing a great job developing and pushing one another to become the best goalkeepers they can become,” Glover said. “Coach Green has been doing an incredible job training the entire group of goalkeepers. Both of them know their role and embrace it, but up to this point in time, they’ve been splitting the matches and taking a half each and both have been doing a very good job.”
