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There's more to Gillan than just soccer

May 16, 2007 12:35 am

BY JIM McCONNELL

Soccer has been a huge part of Elliott Gillan's life since he first started kicking the ball around as a 4-year-old. But for all of his success in the sport, Gillan never wanted it to define him.

Gillan is a star defender for Orange County High School and the leading candidate for Jefferson District player of the year honors. He's also a community-minded teenager who organized a walk-a-thon last weekend to help a local elementary school raise money for new playground equipment.

Gillan is a four-year varsity player in his second season as a team captain. He's also grounded enough to enjoy regular visits with Orange coach Mike Howes' elementary school students.

Gillan's soccer talent is such that he could have several Division I scholarship offers in his back pocket if he chose to go that route. Instead, he's going to play club soccer while focusing on academics next year at James Madison University.

"I don't see a future for me in soccer," Gillan said yesterday before he and his teammates began preparations for tomorrow's district regular-season title showdown against Charlottesville.

"I still want to play and I still enjoy it, but I've been doing it for a long time," he said. "I know how much time you spend when you're playing Division I soccer and I don't want it to rule my whole life."

In an era when sports often take on otherworldly proportions, Gillan's perspective would be refreshing even if he were just an average player. When you consider that he's one of the best players in the state, it's even more encouraging to see such a young person with his priorities so clearly in order.

"He's got it all: touch, size, speed. He's a heck of a player," Louisa coach Joel Abe said last Thursday, after Gillan assisted on Orange's lone goal in a 1-0 victory over the Lions.

Gillan is also the Hornets' unquestioned leader, on and off the field. He stays in constant communication with his teammates from his center-back position, scanning the field to spot players out of position. He's also not afraid to speak up if he believes someone in an Orange uniform isn't giving the team maximum effort.

"When we come together at halftime, he has as much to say to the team as I do," said Howes, who recognized Gillan's talent early and awarded him a coveted spot on the varsity soccer team as a freshman. "The other kids look to him. When he says something, it's because it needs to be said."

It wasn't always that way. Last year, Gillan spent too much time talking to officials, constantly questioning calls until Howes finally took him aside and told him to cool it.

Howes' message was simple: Carry yourself as a leader and set an example for younger teammates. It's a role Gillan has embraced.

"I don't try to focus on [being a leader]. I guess it's just my personality that if something needs to be done, I like to see that it's done the right way," he said. "I've played with these guys long enough that I know the right buttons to push."

Gillan's leadership skills were severely tested when Orange junior goalkeeper Joe Stanley died in an automobile accident on March 31.

The next day, Gillan and co-captain Ben Freeman gathered their teammates together to visit Stanley's family. The players brought flowers and expressions of sympathy, grieving for a 16-year-old who passed away far too early.

"It was definitely a difficult situation. I've had a couple deaths in my family, but never one so sad and traumatic with someone so young," Gillan said. "Nobody really knew what to do or say. I just tried my best to be strong and help our younger players figure out the best way to handle it."

Gillan almost always handles his business the right way now, whether he's stuffing the attack of an opposing forward or working with kids at one of Howes' youth camps.

And as the end of his high school soccer career draws near, Gillan hasn't forgotten a most important lesson learned many, many seasons ago.

"It's still just a game," he said. "You have to give it your all and try to win, but you can't get so uptight that you're not enjoying yourself. It's supposed to be fun."