Rhoades resurrects soccer career at Sheridan College

Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Reporter
 
He felt the devastation of losing his senior year of high school soccer just one week into practice in March, so when Jacob Rhoades got the news that Sheridan College wanted to add him to their roster for the fall, it helped to ease some of that pain. 
“I am so excited to be able to play for Sheridan,” Rhoades smiled. “It was really tough to have my last season of high school cancelled so having the opportunity to play again is really great!”
This season is the first year since Rhoades was 4 years old that he was denied the chance to take the pitch, and his dedication to the sport has paid off. 
Rhoades played midfield and striker for the Dogies in his three seasons and his soccer IQ, quickness and great footwork caught the eye of collegiate coaches despite having his senior season shut down before it began. 
“I was actually talking to the coach at Gillette College and was planning to walk on there,” Rhoades admitted. “But then the Sheridan coach called my dad and said he wanted to talk to me. We did, and after I filled out the application, he put me on the roster right then and there.”
The Sheridan Generals are part of the Northern Wyoming Community College District and are sanctioned by the National Junior College Athletic Association. The college also has a sister school in the Gillette College, and as both have their own teams, the two schools share a good-hearted rivalry with each other. 
Sheridan opponents include not only the Pronghorns of GC, but also other junior colleges in Wyoming, as well as schools in South Dakota, Montana and Colorado.
Though Rhoades wasn’t sure what kind of record the Generals enjoy in men’s soccer, he referenced his brother Marshall’s soccer experience with Sheridan when he played for Northwest College in Powell.
“They do fairly well every year,” Rhoades nodded. “They were always one of the toughest opponents for Northwest when my brother played. It was always a good game between the two teams.”
At this time, Rhoades anticipates that he will be reporting to the college at the beginning of August to prepare for the fall soccer season, which is quite long continuing through the fall and into the winter. 
After the regular season, the team will participate in indoor soccer for the duration of the winter and then continue with other off-season training in the spring.
Rhoades isn’t certain what position he will play, however he is confident that he will be a midfielder given he applied for that position.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that there will be a season this fall,” he smiled. “I’m ready to start already because I’ve been waiting for soccer for so long!”
Though Rhoades was not offered an athletic scholarship to play in Sheridan, through his academic prowess, the award guaranteed him from the school has left no concerns for covering the cost of attending.