More than two decades ago, a group of Walton Scholars started playing soccer on the lawn in front of the Ganus Athletic Center (GAC). Keeping with the tradition, a group of students gather on the GAC lawn every Friday at 4:30p.m. to play soccer, unwind and have fun.
Senior Walton Scholar Isacar Racine said he has been playing with the group since the first Friday of his freshman year. According to Racine, a group of Walton Scholar upperclassmen made sure to inform the newcomers of the time and location, and encouraged them to join. Racine said being able to play helped him grow accustomed to living far from home.
“When I got here, soccer was something that reminded me of my home country,” Racine said. “The atmosphere of having your Hispanic family doing something together was something that helped me not to be so homesick.”
Senior Walton Scholar Cristian Ceren said he has also been playing since his freshman year, and has seen the group diversify. He said that there are normally at least five different ethnicities represented every Friday.
“It used to be only a Walton Scholars thing, but then more people came around,” Ceren said. “I think at the beginning people think that they have to play really well to play with us, but it’s not like that. When we play soccer we forget about all of the stress and troubles we have at school. We feel like the people we are playing with are like family, and it’s amazing.”
Sophomore Cameron Avery, a Nashville native, said he saw the group playing and eventually worked up the courage to join in.
“I just wanted to continue to play because I love (soccer) so much,” Avery said. “I would see them go out my freshman year, and I got to know a couple of them really well. I loved it because it’s just people going out to play soccer for fun. It wasn’t anything serious, and that’s how I like to play soccer.”
According to Ceren, three years ago, a few members of the group decided to get organized. They formed an official club, wrote a constitution, elected officers and set stipulations for membership. To be a part of the official club, one must play soccer on three consecutive Fridays, ask to be a member and pay the $15 fee. Once in the club, members are given a jersey and allowed to play on Sunday nights inside the GAC.
Although Sunday nights are reserved for members, anyone with a love for soccer is encouraged to join on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. on the lawn in front of the GAC.
“I can’t remember a Friday we haven’t played,” Racine said. “We play even if it snows and even during club week. We play no matter what. It’s like a fever, you just want to play.”
