|
|
|
Mike Howard has seen a lot of good goal scorers during his stint as Rolla High School boys’ soccer head coach.
In fact, he’s seen pretty much all of them, considering he’s been the Bulldog head coach for 17 of the program’s 18 years.
And Tyler Sinnott stands No. 1.
Midway through his senior season Sinnott has smashed the Bulldogs’ all-time goal-scoring record. That mark fell last weekend during the Rolla Tournament. Sinnott set the mark on a penalty kick against Northeast Kansas City during an 8-4 victory.
The old mark was 87 held by Stephen Williams, who graduated in 2005...just before Sinnott began his RHS career.
Indeed, RHS has had some top-flight scorers, including the likes of Williams, Mike Kiefer and Joe Vega.
But by the time Sinnott is finished this fall he’s going to best all of their totals by a wide margin. Prior to this weekend Sinnott had 91 goals for his career and 15 goals in seven games so far this campaign.
It was obvious to Howard and anyone else watching Bulldog soccer that Sinnott was going to be a special player when he stepped on the field as a freshman.
“It was somewhat of a goal,” Sinnott said of breaking the school goal-scoring mark. “I had thought about it. But it’s my teammates who really helped me get there. Thanks to them, it just happened.”
Of course, Sinnott’s soccer skills, athletic ability and his drive had a lot to do with it as well.
“Tyler might be the best boys’ athlete I’ve ever coached,” said Howard, who, no doubt, was saving that top overall honor for former Lady Bulldog All-America and state goals-scored record-holder Anne Felts, who went on to win a national championship at North Carolina. “The thing Tyler brings to the table is his competitive spirit. He wants to win and succeed so bad. He’s going to push everybody.
“The think I love about Tyler is he’s got the obvious ability to score goals, but he’s also one of the most competitive players I’ve ever had.”
No doubt that Sinnott is a superior athlete. As a junior he was an all-state player in both soccer and baseball. As an outfielder he helped lead the Bulldog baseball squad to one of their finest seasons ever in ‘07, and RHS will likely be a southwest Missouri power come this spring.
In addition, Sinnott was a standout guard for the RHS boys’ basketball squad last season, averaging around 18 points per game and earning all-district honors.
And at the end of his senior season Sinnott is likely going to have opportunities to play collegiately in all three sports.
He’s not worried about that in the middle of a season, but he does admit to leading towards baseball as his future sport.
“It keeps me busy,” Sinnott said of being a three-sport athlete. “And I like that. It’s going to make my senior year fly.
“I’m going to college for baseball; I’ve already decided that. I don’t know where yet. I think baseball is my best sport. But right now I’m just worried about soccer.”
Will Play Baseball
Mike Howard has seen a lot of good goal scorers during his stint as Rolla High School boys’ soccer head coach.
In fact, he’s seen pretty much all of them, considering he’s been the Bulldog head coach for 17 of the program’s 18 years.
And Tyler Sinnott stands No. 1.
Midway through his senior season Sinnott has smashed the Bulldogs’ all-time goal-scoring record. That mark fell last weekend during the Rolla Tournament. Sinnott set the mark on a penalty kick against Northeast Kansas City during an 8-4 victory.
The old mark was 87 held by Stephen Williams, who graduated in 2005...just before Sinnott began his RHS career.
Indeed, RHS has had some top-flight scorers, including the likes of Williams, Mike Kiefer and Joe Vega.
But by the time Sinnott is finished this fall he’s going to best all of their totals by a wide margin. Prior to this weekend Sinnott had 91 goals for his career and 15 goals in seven games so far this campaign.
It was obvious to Howard and anyone else watching Bulldog soccer that Sinnott was going to be a special player when he stepped on the field as a freshman.
“It was somewhat of a goal,” Sinnott said of breaking the school goal-scoring mark. “I had thought about it. But it’s my teammates who really helped me get there. Thanks to them, it just happened.”
Of course, Sinnott’s soccer skills, athletic ability and his drive had a lot to do with it as well.
“Tyler might be the best boys’ athlete I’ve ever coached,” said Howard, who, no doubt, was saving that top overall honor for former Lady Bulldog All-America and state goals-scored record-holder Anne Felts, who went on to win a national championship at North Carolina. “The thing Tyler brings to the table is his competitive spirit. He wants to win and succeed so bad. He’s going to push everybody.
“The think I love about Tyler is he’s got the obvious ability to score goals, but he’s also one of the most competitive players I’ve ever had.”
No doubt that Sinnott is a superior athlete. As a junior he was an all-state player in both soccer and baseball. As an outfielder he helped lead the Bulldog baseball squad to one of their finest seasons ever in ‘07, and RHS will likely be a southwest Missouri power come this spring.
In addition, Sinnott was a standout guard for the RHS boys’ basketball squad last season, averaging around 18 points per game and earning all-district honors.
And at the end of his senior season Sinnott is likely going to have opportunities to play collegiately in all three sports.
He’s not worried about that in the middle of a season, but he does admit to leading towards baseball as his future sport.
“It keeps me busy,” Sinnott said of being a three-sport athlete. “And I like that. It’s going to make my senior year fly.
“I’m going to college for baseball; I’ve already decided that. I don’t know where yet. I think baseball is my best sport. But right now I’m just worried about soccer.”
Will Play Baseball
