Student athletes ‘never give up’ on their dreams

Emma Hall
Staff Writer

“Never give up ‘cause you never know what you can accomplish,” Carl Kernochan advises other college athletes. He should know. Kernochan, who was recently recruited to play soccer for SUNY Delhi, fought through injuries and other difficulties to make it to where he is now.

“I’ve been in some really rough spots before,” Kernochan said. “I had some back injuries. I thought I was never going to be able to play soccer again, but thankfully I had a speedy recovery, and I never gave up. I went to a four-year school where I wasn’t playing soccer, and I came back here, and I saw the ability that I had and what I could accomplish. I didn’t give up on my dream of playing college soccer. Now, here I am getting recruited by a four year school to complete my desired degree in architecture.”

Kernochan, who roots for the Premier League’s Manchester United, would love to fulfill his childhood dream of playing professional soccer in England. He’s not sure he’ll make it to that level, though.

One of the things Kernochan has learned at Hudson Valley is how to manage his time.

“Being a college athlete, you have to get a 2.0 GPA,” he said. “Also, you’re expected to perform at the top level, and it’s not easy to do, especially for kids who are coming right out of high school.”

Kernochan was fortunate to have had two years between high school and playing college soccer to mature.

Being recruited has been his dream since he was young. He names his older brother, a basketball scout for Fordham University, and a friend playing soccer for SUNY Adirondack as two of his biggest influences on the road to being recruited.

A special game for him was against Mohawk Valley in 2017. He scored two goals and had an assist, something he didn’t do much of in high school.

Kernochan’s teammate, Ethan Thomas, has been recruited by Utica College, where he will major in Criminal Justice and test his soccer skills at the NCAA level.

“I think [going to Utica College] is a great step in my life — just finally getting out of living at home, and living by myself, creating my path,” Thomas said.

Thomas, a left wing who also plays wing back, would love to go professional and quotes this dream as being something that has motivated him to continue on with soccer. He has confidence he will make it one day, perhaps with his favorite team, Barcelona. He has already been to a couple of trials with professional teams.

One of the highlights for the lifelong soccer player was his first Hudson Valley goal. Another was going to the state finals undefeated as a high school senior with Ballston Spa.

Hudson Valley’s soccer coach, Travis Cooke, has been instrumental in helping Thomas move on to the next level in soccer, putting him in contact with schools and getting his name out where scouts can find it. Thomas is confident the coaches at Utica College will help him climb even higher.

Thomas advises student athletes at Hudson Valley to focus on their grades.

“The past two years I’ve been here, students have not been focused on their grades and think they can easily pass through and still play,” Thomas explained. “It’s not high school where the teacher will help you out and let you know [how you’re doing]. The teachers here will help you out, but you’re on your own to keep going. Grades are important. You can still have good grades and play soccer at the same time. You just have to be motivated.”

Kernochan and Thomas will both graduate from Hudson Valley this spring.