On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, Wissahickon senior Cole Kropnick was recognized at a special news conference for signing a letter of intent to play soccer at Shippensburg University. To view photos of the signing, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Cole Kropnick – Shippensburg University (Soccer)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Shippensburg, West Chester, Temple
Reasons for choosing Shippensburg: “My first visit was (the end of Feburary), and it really just set me off. It was all about the campus. I loved it and the coach is great.
“The financials played a big role, and the coach played a big role. He basically said, ‘We’re going to give you a shot as a freshman – we’re going to give you the same shot as a senior.’ I liked that a lot. Me and the coach connected well, so it was a good fit.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate soccer? “Just starting in ninth grade - I have always wanted to play soccer. I was always kind of ahead of the level I was playing at, so I knew it could be a good opportunity. Just the way the season turned out for my high school career – it led to a good future for soccer.”
Coach Stuart Malcolm says: “Cole has been with the program four years. He was one of three freshmen who made the varsity team, and he made an impact right from the start. He scored in his first game and played different roles for us. When I look at a high school player, he is someone who’s versatile. He’s going to play the position you (ask) him to play for the best interests of the program. Sometimes that’s frustrating to players, but he just stepped up. I think the only position he hasn’t played is goalkeeper. We’ve had him play defense, midfield and as a striker.
“Obviously, this year he stepped up big time. He’s always contributed with goals and assists, but since we went to 18 games on the schedule as opposed to the 20 – I’ve been here for the transition, and I know for a fact his 27 (goals) this season was the most that any player scored for Wissahickon in this era.
“He’s the sort of player who’s the lead by example type. He helped a lot of the younger players be able to be part of what was really a successful season for us. We had one or two injuries that we thought would be a blow to how far we could go, and in the end, with Cole stepping up the way he did and all the other players raising their game too made for a really exciting season. Obviously, we wish him all the best. I think Shippensburg is a good fit for him. I think he’ll hopefully get good playing time, and we’ll hear about him in the newspaper in terms of what he’s doing at the collegiate level.”
About Cole:
Favorite food: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Favorite movie: Taken
Favorite music: Rap/Hip Hop
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