For the past three seasons CWRU goalkeeper John
Chenevey has saved the tape he uses to secure his shin guards
underneath his socks. Rather than throwing it away after each
practice and match, he adds it to what he calls a tape ball.
The object, almost as big as a soccer ball now, will serve as
a memento of his time as a Spartan.
Time well spent.
Although the Spartans have struggled as a team
during his time at CWRU, individually Chenevey, a Canal Fulton,
Ohio, native, has performed well. Six games into last season,
he had only given up one goal, ranking him among the nation's
best.
Chenevey, an All-State selection his senior year
in high school at Canton Central Catholic, finished last year
with a 1.20 goals against average and eight shutouts. That was
a tremendous improvement from his sophomore season when he allowed
2.07 goals a match.
"His dedication and discipline in both athletics
and academics are compatible to the traits he will need to get
him through life," said Head Coach Jerry Harbak. "John had the
misfortune of being part of some not exceptionally strong teams,
but he has been solid in goal for us."
In the classroom Chenevey has a 3.84 accumulative
GPA. Not bad considering he will graduate this spring with a
bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry and psychology. That
hard work has earned him two consecutive University Athletic
Association All-Academic Team honors.
Chenevey said, like his teammates, he came to
CWRU for its academics, fully understanding that because of
pressures in the classroom, his team may lose more times on
the field than win.
"You can't beat this place for its schooling,"
Chenevey said. "I'm super competitive on the field, so when
we are losing and the trash talking begins by the other team,
I will just joke that I am going to have a better education."
After soccer and his undergrad work, Chenevey
will chase his dream of becoming an orthopedic or pediatric
surgeon. He currently volunteers in the cancer ward of Rainbow
Babies and Children's Hospitals. It's something he started a
year ago and continues even with the busy schedule of a student-athlete.
"Those kids in Rainbow are there months at a time,
and their parents can't possibly be there all the time," Chenevey
said. "It's nice to be able to step in and help out. I do pretty
well with kids, and they seem to enjoy me."
The University of Michigan, Northwestern and CWRU
are favorites on a list of 20 medical schools to which Chenevey
has applied. In late September he will receive secondary applications
from schools interested in him and begin interviewing November
through January. Then in January or February he will begin to
receive offers.
"Once that happens you have 10 days to decide
if you except their offer," Chenevey said. "They don't waste
time. If you don't respond right away, they close your spot
and give it to someone else. It's super competitive."
So is Chenevey—on and off the field.
