SPIRE Academy is best known for its multisport boarding school program, for good reason. Student athletes come from far and wide, both domestically and internationally, to take their already considerable academic and athletic talent to the next level. But more and more, day students are making their presence felt in every sport SPIRE offers, including men’s soccer.

“This season’s team arrived on campus on September 1,” says Sean Lane, Director of Soccer and Head Coach at SPIRE. “Of course, they arrived as individuals: talented individuals, but individuals nonetheless. It’s our job to take such groups of talented individuals and turn them into a team: a well-oiled football machine. So we used those first three months after they arrived here as an opportunity to do just that, to introduce them to and drill them in the SPIRE way.”

One of those talented individuals is Evan Johnston. Johnston is from Concord Township in Ohio. “Being a regional student at SPIRE Academy is pretty incredible,” says Johnston. “It gives you the ability to meet kids from countries all over the world—places you’ll likely never get to in your lifetime—while still living at home. On top of the melting pot, the athletics are next level: a true game changer for anybody wanting to take it up a notch or 10. Everybody at SPIRE has similar goals and everybody is easy to get along with. SPIRE has truly been a great choice for me. Sometimes I can’t believe my good fortune, to have a program like this right in my backyard.”

Other men’s soccer day and post-grad student athletes of note include:

• Colton Carrick (Day, Freshman)
• Santino Cardilli (Day, Post Grad)
• Korbin Jeffries (Day, Senior)
• James Meinke (Day, Junior)
• Cameron Steele (Day, Freshman)

But no matter where a player comes from, or when in the year they start their training, for Lane fitness comes first. A key component of any sport, fitness might be most critical for soccer due to the grueling pace: 90 minutes of almost constant running up and down the pitch and pressing the opponent. For soccer coaches anywhere in the world at any level, then, addressing player fitness is a must all season long. Lane: “All of these kids have put in “hard yards” in the gym and on the practice field. As a result their fitness levels have improved dramatically. In addition, there’s individual technical training: a focus on improving the player’s tactical game-awareness.”

A coach’s work is never done it seems, nor is a student athlete’s—no matter where they hail from. “Talent can come from anywhere,” says Lane. “SPIRE’s sports boarding program gets a lot of attention from a lot of far-flung places, but what matters in the end is the student athlete’s attitude: their willingness to work and to be coached. I look forward to working with any young footballers ready to put the proper amount of time and effort into their very demanding sport.”

About SPIRE Academy
SPIRE Academy is a comprehensive academic, athletic, personal skills and college-and-career development boarding school located in a world-class event and wellness complex located in Ohio’s Harpersfield Township. Constructed on 750 acres under 850,000 square feet of roof, SPIRE Academy (spireacademy.com) has five divisions: (1) SPIRE Academy & Camps, an accredited college-preparatory international boarding school and multi-sport/specialty training and development academy for grades 9-12 and post-grads; (2) SPIRE Leagues, Clubs & Professional Teams, including SPIRE Academy affiliated leagues and club programs; (3) SPIRE Events, a facility and associated team that host local, national and international tournaments and events with the NCAA, the Big East, Big Ten, Atlantic 10 conferences, the Olympics and world championship qualifiers; (4) SPIRE Institute, the research and development arm of SPIRE Academy, studying performance improvement across multiple disciplines through corporate affiliations and university relationships; and finally (5) SPIRE Fit, a membership-based fitness, swim, personal training and health center open to the community. Sports currently featured at SPIRE Academy include men’s and women’s basketball, esports, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.