A gruesome injury ended Cris Chavez’s junior season.
Standing in the middle of the field, he watched a cross go over his head and out of bounds. While turning to run in the other direction, his left ankle gave out and he heard it pop.
Chavez had to be carried off the field and was taken to the hospital, where it was determined he tore ligaments. It ended his junior campaign after he scored five goals in 17 games.
Franklin athletic director Blair King was there to help carry Chavez off the field that day.
“Remembering that and comparing it to the spectacle of sheer talent he put on this year would be worthy of a comeback player of the year award if we had one,” King said.
Chavez scored 39 goals as a senior, adding nine assists and earning Mountain Six Conference Player of the Year honors. His breakout from solid player to star was the direct result of offseason work, according to FHS coach Matt Kolodzik.
“He was able to take that adversity, grow from that and appreciate the little things more,” Kolodzik said. “I saw that all summer with his effort and attitude. I tell players there are three things coaches look at: attitude, effort and skill level. If the attitude and effort aren’t there, it doesn’t matter what skill level you have. Cris proved the first two, that in itself by the approach he took with his attitude and by being a leader and wanting to win. He wanted to get better every day, then his skill level increased.
“Seeing that happen while continuing to progress through last season was amazing to watch.”
Chavez had a summer job, which meant he worked until 5 or 6 p.m. most days. Regardless of when he got off work or how tired he might’ve been, he always went straight to the field to take shots and run.
For Chavez, the intense desire to improve was a matter of urgency.
“I was thinking it was my senior year, I’ve got to give it my all,” he said.
The hard work paid off last month when Chavez secured his plans to play at the next level. He took a visit to the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie and made his commitment official by signing while on campus.
For Chavez, it was important to know he was going to be able to continue his soccer-playing career.
“I wanted to know where I was gonna go so I could get everything planned out,” he said.
It was a dream come true, and also a bragging chip he can use against his two older brothers who like to tease him how they’re better than him.
“It feels good,” Chavez said.
Grades and goals
Chavez goes with his family to Mexico every winter, from December to February. It’s where his parents, Cris and Bertha, were born.
Chavez plays soccer down there, when the temperatures are in the 80s – a stark contrast compared to the winter weather in the mountains.
The only drawback to the most recent trip was Chavez wasn’t around to talk to college coaches. When he came back, Kolodzik gave him some options to explore.
Chavez started reading about USC-Salk and told Kolodzik to reach out and see if he could take a visit.
Kolodzik wrote a long letter to Bill Glass, extolling Chavez’s virtues.
“It’s pretty easy to sell a guy who scored 39 goals, seventh-most in state,” Kolodzik said.
Chavez took the four-hour drive to visit, meeting Glass and some of the players.
Glass was immediately impressed by Chavez’s drive and determination to get on the right track academically.
“As a junior college coach, nothing makes me happier than to see players graduate with a high GPA and a soccer scholarship to a four-year college,” Glass said. “Cris has the motivation to be one of our success stories. His drive to succeed in everything he does is evidenced by the impressive goal tally he racked up in high school. I know he will help our team win.”
Chavez said the Indians lost two forwards from last year’s team and he expects to play the same position.
Scoring goals was his forte this past fall. He netted six goals in a game – tying the school record – twice, coming against Blue Ridge Early College and Pisgah.
The 39 goals he scored are the second-most in a single season, behind Kurt Lehnert’s 48 in 1986.
Chavez plans to study criminal justice and become a police officer. Just like his dedication on the field, he’s ready to commit his best effort in the classroom.
“I need to do everything better there,” he said. “Here, I didn’t really try my sophomore year. I’m gonna start studying a lot and get my grades up.”
Quiet leader
Chavez, who is 18, started playing soccer when he was 7.
“I just like going on that field and forgetting about everything,” he said. “These past days have been weird not being able to go out and play or anything. Every time I go to the field I forget about everything. I just go out there and play, have fun.”
He had a signing ceremony planned at FHS for March 26. That got wiped out when schools closed and sports were halted because of the coronavirus pandemic.
At 6-feet tall and 155 pounds, Chavez is trying to lift weights and add muscle. He’s been lifting weights and has been working on soccer skills (passing, not shooting) with his brothers at home, while also going for runs at the park.
Chavez is the second Panthers senior to make his college commitment after Jacob Kolodzik signed with Brevard College in January.
Matt Kolodzik said he can aid in the process of helping players get to the next level, but ultimately it’s up to them to put in the work.
“Cris really did this himself because of what he put into it,” Kolodzik said. “I was able to go to bat for him because he was a team captain and is very deserving of playing at the next level. I’m proud of him.”
King called Chavez a quiet leader who allowed his play to do the talking, and he’s excited about his future.
“You meet Cris and you cannot help but like him,” King said. “He has an infectious personality and just comes off as this great person. I cannot wait to see what he does on the next level.”