Nick Wilson can’t be two places at the same time, but he’s willing to try.
The Center Grove sophomore plans to pull double duty during the upcoming fall sports season as a member of both the Trojans’ soccer and cross-country teams.
“A lot of my friends are in disbelief that I want to try both,” said Wilson, who has a 4.4 grade-point average and is ranked 42nd in his class of 629 students. He knows how to manage lots of demands on his time.
“Cross-country meets are mostly on the weekend and a lot of soccer matches are during the week, so I should be able to get both in.”
Wilson played junior varsity soccer last season, but didn’t participate in cross country.
However, after completing a successful track season in the spring – he qualified for the Warren Central Regional in the 1,600-meter run as a freshman, placing eighth in a time of 4:40.41 — Wilson realized his potential as a distance runner.
The Trojans’ soccer and cross-country regular-season schedules set up favorably given what Wilson wants to accomplish — with one exception.
On Aug. 26, Center Grove cross-country competes at the Franklin Invitational, which is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. Later that morning. The Trojans’ soccer team plays a match at Roncalli.
Wilson’s postseason could prove much trickier.
The championship game of the boys soccer sectional is Oct. 7 at Franklin. The Grizzly Cubs host cross-country sectionals the same day. Regional, semistate and the state final are the same three Saturdays in both sports (Oct. 14, 21 and 28).
Center Grove soccer coach Jameson McLaughlin, who plans to use Wilson as a left back, marvels at the sophomore’s range as an athlete.
“Nick plays hockey, too,” McLaughlin said. “Do I think he can pull it off? Absolutely. My only concern is injury, but I’m all for a kid doing anything to get himself noticed to possibly play at the next level.
“If anyone can do this, it’s Nick.”
