Soccer
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan
Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles
Favorite memory competing in sports: Scoring my first varsity goal sophomore year against CB West.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: I tried to flick a ball over my head off a throw in, I misread it, and it hit me square in the face. My sister got a live photo of it and has shown it to everyone she knows.
Music on Playlist: Anything by Kanye West.
Future plans: Attend a university and major in Statistics or Actuarial Science.
Words to live by: “Pain is temporary, Quitting lasts forever.”
One goal before turning 30: Before I turn 30, I would like to have a stable job that I enjoy and be living in my own house.
One thing people don’t know about me: I am the worst video game player in history.
By GORDON GLANTZ
To the outside world, it is often called “coach speak.”
Within the sports world, though, what may sound clichéd to naysayers is practically scripture.
What a coach says about an athlete is often all that needs to be said about who and what he or she is all about.
Such is the case with C.B. East soccer coach Josh Isaacsohn and senior Josh Daniels.
“It’s truly my pleasure to have Josh Daniels as one of the leaders of the CB East soccer team,” said Isaacsohn. “Josh is the epitome of what a coach looks for.”
Daniels – according to Isaacsohn, checks all the boxes:
-Individual high standards
-Maturity
-A team player
-A team leader and an overall incredible role model to his friends and younger players.
“Josh is the captain you can count on no matter time, place or circumstance,” continued Isaacsohn. “On the field, Josh has proven to be an asset both defensively and offensively. His ability to mix hard-nosed soccer with proper positioning, long throws and crisp passing are vital to our team's success.
“Additionally, Josh can always be counted on to exhibit consistent hustle, sportsmanship, focus and soccer smarts. When these traits are combined with his can-do attitude, leadership and work ethic, he proves what a tremendous player -- but more importantly, the distinguished and exceptional young man he is.”
Isaacsohn will be heartened to learn that that the feeling is mutual.
“He is a great coach,” said Daniels. “He always cares so much about his players and his team. He has been so kind to me for all four years.”
Long Distance Runaround
Chris Pierangeli has had the unique experience of coaching Daniels when he played JV soccer as a freshman and then as his track coach, come the winter and spring seasons.
He, too, has seen him as the ideal athlete to coach.
“Josh is one of the most committed and hard-working kids I have coached,” said Pierangeli. “He is willing to put in the extra work when no one is watching and will always push his teammates to do their best.”
Daniels gave up basketball to give track a go, but initially didn’t do so with any major aspirations.
“I’ll be honest, I got into track to stay in shape for soccer,” he said. “I ended up really liking it and enjoying it. I really liked the idea of pushing myself to get better every day. It’s easy to tell with track, too, because your times improve. But, while I really like track, soccer is still my No. 1. I have been playing since I was 3 years old.”
In terms of remaining in soccer shape, he continues to see the results.
“Definitely,” he affirmed. “I have teammates who do track, too. We’re always feeling good after games. Other players are sore, but we know how to recover right and stay in shape and stay healthy. It has been a real help.”
Isaacsohn has seen the results as well, saying: “His cardio running ability and stamina is top notch as he often brings his track knowledge and experience into his soccer.”
As it has turned out, the track experiment has yielded a significant impact. Daniels just missed the cutoff for states last spring as part of the 4x800 relay unit.
Said Pierangeli: “He came out for track for the first time as a sophomore and by the end of the season was one of our top three runners in the 800, helping his team qualify for districts. Last year, we challenged him to tackle more mileage and he became our best miler, qualifying for the SOL League Championships after shaving 20 seconds off his starting time. Meanwhile, he remained a core member of the 4x800 that once again qualified for Districts and finished top 10. I can’t wait to see what he does senior year.”
Perpetual Motion
By his own admission, Daniels likes to keep moving. When not involved in soccer (which included playing for Buckingham United since he was 8), he shines in the classroom and is involved in various extracurricular activities (National Honor Society,
Spanish Honor Society and the Key Club).
He also works several jobs (at a gym, a restaurant and refereeing/coaching youth soccer).
Somewhere in there, he finds time to maintain a 4.35 GPA while taking 5 AP classes and 2 honors classes.
“I try to (do homework) during school as much as I can,” he said. “We have little breaks in the day, and I like to peck away at my work. After practice, I’ll eat dinner with my family and then take a shower and get my work done.”
Adding It All Up
A defensive player with only two career goals off corner kicks to his name, Daniels has gone through the pros and cons of playing soccer at the next level.
With Statistics or Actuarial Science looming as a major, he has done all the calculations and come out with the realizations that it’s either Division III soccer or a larger school, such as the University of Florida, where he will feel more comfortable in the environment and can still play club soccer.
“There was a time when I thought about playing soccer (in college),” he said. “My coaches – and my parents, my neighbors and everyone else that I look up to – were all pretty much telling me to make sure to enjoy the college I go to. If an injury happens -- or something bad happens with the team – I still need to be able to enjoy the school without soccer. If not, there is no point in going there.”
No Pain, No Gain
After a year on JV, Daniels saw his sophomore season cut in half due to the onset of COVID that spring.
Last season, he had to fight through a series of injuries (sprained ankles, pulled back muscle) and missed about a month of the season.
This year, with a heavily taped ankle, he is looking for big things for a team that is out to a 9-3 start.
Daniels has a no-pain, no-gain mentality.
He said: “During soccer games, during the end, when it goes double overtime, or in track meets, I just say to myself, ‘Don’t give up. It’s going to hurt now, but it’s going to be worth it in 5-10 minutes.’”
On the practice field, and in games, Daniels is determined to lead the way as best he can.
“I try to lead in everything I can do,” he said. “I just try to pay attention at practice and keep everyone locked in and focused before games, On the field, during games, I like to think I’m a leader also. I talk a lot. I just try to do the best I can.
“I feel there is no point in playing at all unless you are going 100 percent, so I just try my hardest.”
Daniels thanked his coaches (school and club), his parents (Rob and Lisa), older sister (Paige) and neighbors for their support.
He also can’t imagine his sports experience without all his friends and teammates – his brothers of other mothers – along for the ride.
He said: “I wouldn’t be anywhere without my friends who I’ve grown up playing with and made me love the sport as much as I do.”
