"THE ONLY SPORT THERE IS" Hy Lii>hie Tu1·11er Harding University attracted students from all over the world with a variety of cultural backgrounds, often making it difficult for foreign students to find commonalities with their peers. With this challenge in mind, a group ofWalton Scholars created the Harding United Soccer Club in 2012 so that students from all over campus could play organized soccer together. Many of the students who took part in the Harding United Soccer Club were Walton Scholars. When a student attended Harding as a Walton Scholar, his contract rendered him ineligible to play any sport for an official university team, leaving many former athletes in search of an avenue to continue playing soccer. By 2015, the Harding United Soccer Club had over 25 members. They came together on Friday afternoons in front of the Ganus Athletic Center and on Sunday nights inside the gym to play. To become an official member, an individual was required to come and play three Fridays in a row. After proving dedication to the club, the new member paid a one-time fee to cover the cost of a jersey. Club sponsor Mark Gregory, AV production manager fore-learning information systems and technology, said aside from playing soccer, the club's main goal was to raise money to buy soccer equipment for kids in Honduras in hopes of helping them learn something productive and keeping them off the streets. "I enjoy being a sponsor because many of my student workers are a part of the club, and I know they have a heart for helping underprivileged children," Gregory said. Sophomore Andres Flores served as president of the Harding United Soccer Club for the 2015-2016 school year after the graduating seniors nominated him the year before. Flores said soccer was a way for him to relieve stress, meet new people and build relationships. "When I go play soccer, I can free my mind from every thought," Flores said. "And when you play with new people, you get to know them and see them around campus." Junior Diego Cordero served as the secretary and said the time spent playing with the soccer club made him appreciate the diversity on Harding's campus. "There are so many people here from so many different places," Cordero said. "There can be 20 of us playing, and we're each from a different (place). Africa, New Zealand, Europe, Brazil, China. It's incredible." Flores said the Harding United Soccer Club planned to continue to grow and start using its resources to partner with programs and charities that give back to various countries in Latin America. When Flores was asked if soccer was his favorite sport, his answer reflected the depth of his and his fellow club members' love for the game. "Is it my favorite sport?" Flores said. "Soccer is the only sport there is."
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==