20 • The Beacon April 21 , 2022
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COSHOCTON COMMUNITY CHOIR
Anniversary Celebration Concert
April
24
2022 sun . at 3pm
SUMMERS from Page 19
in the third grade .
“ Drew ’ s dad took me in and taught me the game ,” Summers said . “ I like the anticipation and buildup of soccer and being part of good things when they happen . Some of the ways people can move the ball with their feet is incredible too .”
Summers has made many memories playing
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soccer for River View including playing against Coshocton , New Philadelphia and John Glenn this year .
“ Really , my best memory is this year , proving that we could be a successful program ,” he said . “ If you watched us , you might not have thought that because we like to have fun .”
Summers also enjoyed sharing the field with his
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“ That really pushed me ,” Summers said . “ He ’ s just getting into ( high school soccer ), but he is going to be great .”
Summers wouldn ’ t be where he is without the support of his family and coaches .
“ When I play , I can ’ t hear anything because I ’ m focused on what ’ s going on on the field , but I could always here my mom ,” Summers said . “ I had a lot of talks with my dad too in the car about real-world situations . He doesn ’ t know soccer the best , but he ’ s tried to learn . I have to thank Jim Ireland too . He first got me into the game , and I consider him like another father .”
The late coach Mike Burr will be remembered for giving Summers the opportunity to play varsity soccer .
“ He introduced me to high school action ,” Summers said . “ We had a lot of talented guys that year , but he told me I was going to play varsity my freshmen year . He gave me the opportunity but definitely made me work for it .”
Coach Vince Andrews then stepped in when Summers was a sophomore .
“ He was always supportive of my decisions on the soccer field and helped me see I was capable of being the best player possible . He is a big part of my soccer success ,” Summers said .
Andrews said Bluffton is getting a good allaround athlete .
“ He played center midfield a lot for us and stepped into a leadership role ,” Andrews said . “ He ’ s capable of playing wherever they want him too . He ’ s a hard worker .”
Summers ’ parents are both very happy with his choice in college .
“ It ’ s small , and that is something Gage was looking for ,” Dalton Summers said . “ I liked the whole atmosphere when we visited .”
Jessica Summers has enjoyed watching her son grow into a leader on the soccer field . “ He plays as a team member ,” she said . “ This year he played with his younger brother , who is a freshman . He was as concerned with helping him score as he was himself .”
Both mom and dad are very appreciative of the support Summers and his brothers have received since moving to the River View district when the kids were young .
“ They accepted our kids and family as one of them ,” Jessica Summers said .
Dalton Summers said , “ We couldn ’ t ask for a better school system , and we are glad he got to play for River View . We are very proud of Gage .”
Gage is a three-year letterman for the River View boys soccer program . In the fall of 2021 , he was awarded first team All-MVL , first team Eastern District , All Ohio Senior Academic Award , and participated in the Eastern District Senior Showcase . Gage also was awarded Most Valuable Offensive Player for his team his senior year and was the team captain . He was the leading point scorer on his team with 21 goals and five assists , amounting to 47 points .
Summers will major in prephysical therapy at Bluffton . His advice to his younger teammates is to always play as a team .
“ It ’ s not all about individual success ,” Summers said . “ It ’ s about team success . If you play as a team , your team can succeed , even if it ’ s not star loaded . We had an incredible season this year because we worked well together . Work hard and play for the team .”