Ethan Duffield ’13 | Staff Writer

With his senior soccer season coming to an end, team captain Alex Detwiler ’13 is looking forward to continuing his career in college. After visiting with multiple colleges, Detwiler has narrowed his search down to four schools and hopes to know where he’s attending in the next few months.

“The first thing I look for in a school is their academics,” said Detwiler. “Soccer still comes second to my education.”

Excluding Saint Louis University and Indiana University, Detwiler says he has met with Aquinas College and Albion College. These schools contacted Detwiler through a website called Captainu.com, which contains information about individual players along with contact information.

“I e-mailed multiple coaches with interest in their program and received some informational packets but I had my first visit in the summer of 2012 with Albion and Aquinas,” said Detwiler.

Although Detwiler has developed better relationships with the members of his high school team, he admits that his travel team, Vardar, has given him the kind of exposure he needs to get recognized by colleges.

“My team consists of kids all around the lower peninsula,” said Detwiler. “I’ve traveled all around the US to tournaments and games, and exposure is the key to achieving success and gaining more talent.”

Once Detwiler started playing with Vardar in 2008, he and his parents knew he wanted to play at the collegiate level, said his mom, Lynn Detwiler. The recruiting process started his junior year and the Detwiler’s credit his exposure to colleges to his extensive travel with Vardar.

“The best fit for Alex is the school that offers the best educational opportunity for his intended career but also offers a competitive soccer program,” said Lynn Detwiler.

Without Detwiler, the soccer program would not be what it is today, said Coach Stefan Harris. He is a fantastic leader and his hard work rubs off on all of the other players. Wherever he decides to play in college, he will get minutes because of his work ethic.

“Alex never takes any shortcuts and has worked for everything that he has received,” said Harris. “He has always had the drive to get better and it will help him when he’s playing at the next level.”

Not only is Detwiler mentally mature, but his physical and athletic ability are also at a high level said Harris. He is possibly the best captain Harris has had in his four years of coaching at South.

Photos By Mikey Sullivan ’13