Defensive captain helps keep Owls’ back line in order

August 19, 2016

For The Tribune

On the pitch, Seymour’s Griffin Sciarra said he feels teamwork leads to success in high school soccer.

“I love how big it is and how much of a team game it is,” Sciarra said. “It’s nothing like track or anything like that. Everyone has to be accountable, and when everything works and everything is put together, and we do all the little things right, it is really beautiful.

“It’s such a fluid game. It can be slow, and it can be fast. There’s so many styles. There is lots of running involved. It’s like cross-country in that, having to run so much, but we just chase around a ball.”

The senior, who said he enjoys watching soccer on TV, began his career playing in the Seymour Park and Rec Leagues.

“Then I went up to Cyclones when I was about 8 until I was in seventh grade. Then I went to Columbus to play,” Sciarra said.

A captain, Sciarra takes pride on being a leader on the defense.

He’s in his third season starting for the varsity squad.

Sciarra switched positions when he was a youngster and now specializes on the back line.

“Earlier in my career I played striker, and after I broke my leg I went to center back,” Sciarra said. “It’s just easier. That’s where I’ve been my whole high school career.”

He said communication is a key on defense.

“Keeping the defense organized is what I do,” Sciarra said. “Elliott (Clark, goalie) helps us more than I help him, but we defend and try to keep the ball away from him.”

Before a match, Sciarra mentally prepares himself for the contest ahead.

“It’s easy to get up for (Columbus) East and North, but even when we play the smaller schools that we traditionally beat, we have to step up because soccer is such a game where every game is a new game and you have to give it your best or they can beat you easily,” Sciarra said.

“We can’t drop games in (the Hoosier Hills) conference. Last year, we dropped games we shouldn’t have in conference. We’re going to clean that up this year, and we just have to keep finding the net and it will be easy.”

He said you have to play strong until time has expired at the end of a match.

“It’s huge to play hard to the end because you can be dominating the whole game and 30 seconds of poor play and you can be tied or lose,” Sciarra said. “It’s huge to have a good attitude and keep everybody up because when you’re down you play worse, that’s just how it is. We do a great job of talking to each other and telling each other when we do stuff right, and I really think that keeps us strong and we’re a better team for it.”

On the field, Sciarra said he leads both vocally and by example.

“It’s huge to be a two-year captain — it means a lot to me.” Sciarra said. “It makes me think a lot of my guys. My big thing is communication. I’m not afraid to tell guys what to do, and tell them I’m sorry, tell them they did a good job.

“It’s just huge to lead by example, but to also tell them when they’re doing something right or when they’re doing something wrong and just show them what to do.”

Sciarra has enjoyed his tenure at Seymour.

“I love Seymour High School,” he said. “I’m super glad of all the opportunities we’ve had at SHS from internships to AP (advanced placement) classes. It’s a really great school. I’ll remember the friends I’ve made over the years. That’s why I loved playing basketball, too: making friendships that will never go away.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Name: Griffin Sciarra

School: Seymour High School

Parents: Brett and Marla Sciarra

Siblings: Braden, Madeline

Sports: soccer 4 years, basketball 2 years

Athletic highlights: won Batesville Invite twice, 13-win season

Organizations: National Honor Society, D.A.R.E Role Model, St. Ambrose youth ministry

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