Pride, dedication, talent and integrity are just a handful of the many words that can be used to describe Caleb Wilson’s soccer career.
Those adjectives have all translated to his time at Franklin-Simpson High School, as the junior is leading the boys’ soccer squad in goals and points.
It began back when he was just three years old playing recreationally and has now brought him to the Wildcats where he is the top scoring threat on the team.
“I started playing when I was 3 and I fell in love with it the second I touched the ball,” Wilson said.
With every athlete comes a biggest fan. Wilson calls his late uncle his greatest influence.
“My uncle – he passed away on August 30, 2015 with pulmonary fibrosis,” Wilson stated. “He was my #1 fan and he has made me the person I am, too. I play for him. I want to succeed for him.”
In just three years with his high-school squad, Wilson has had great success. The player has been able to score 141 total goals and help his club win 42 matches compared to just 12 losses throughout that time period.
In regards to finding the back of the net this season, Wilson has had no problem doing that.
The scoring threat has netted 51 goals so far on the year and is averaging 3.9 goals scored per game. Not only does he lead his team in that category, but also the entire state of Kentucky.
“I am very honored to be the leading scorer in the state,” Wilson said. “I thank God for giving me the ability to play soccer at the level that I am today.”
Wilson and his Wildcats’ are currently 10-4 on the season with two matches remaining – at Apollo on Sept. 29 and at Warren Central on Oct. 8. The athlete says he and his teammates have grown as a unit throughout the season.
“I think we have come closer as teammates,” Wilson stated. “The seniors have stepped up and once they stepped up, the team saw it and we all stepped up as a team.”
Wilson has scored in every match but one this year. In a 12-2 victory at Russellville back on Sept. 12, Wilson was able to find the back of net seven times. With that achievement, the player is in a tie with six other former soccer stars in most goals scored in a game. The record is 11.
“Scoring comes naturally to me,” Wilson noted. “Scoring goals comes naturally to me because I know what I need to do to win the game.”
Although there are still games to be played on this campaign, Wilson states that not only does he want to add to the goals he has already recorded, but also be a mentor to the younger guys.
“My goals for the 2017 season is to teach the underclassmen to love and play the game together and watch them grow as players,” Wilson said. “I can improve my game by of course scoring more but also teach the younger ones to play the game they love.”
Wilson is not only a goal scoring machine, but also a leader to others.
