He stands 6-feet-3 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds, but is not a member of the Ohio State football team. Unless, of course, you mean European football.
Kerry Thompson is a fifth-year senior goalkeeper for OSU men’s soccer team and has seen the OSU program grow. When the Dublin, Ohio native arrived in the fall of 1997, the Buckeyes had a new coach and were coming off a 7-8-3 season. Since that time, the program has compiled four winning seasons and the program’s first Big Ten Championship. Thompson has been a big part of that success.
“One of the best things about playing here has been watching the program grow from a middle-of-the-road program to one of the Top 15 or 20 teams in the nation,” Thompson said. “We have great coaches and now we have the best facility in the nation, so we should only continue to get better.”
When Thompson ends his soccer career at OSU, he will leave his mark. With a 1-0 shutout over Southwest Missouri State, Thompson became OSU’s all-time career leader in shutouts. He has six blankings this year giving him 23 for his career. His latest shutout was on Oct. 26 in a 1-0 road win against Adelphi. Thompson has earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this season.
“Because Kerry has been here for five years he knows what we expect and he knows how to react in different game situations,” said John Bluem, OSU’s men’s soccer coach. “He is able to carry out instructions without me having to say anything and he relates that to other players. It is almost like having another coach on the field.”
Handling the Pressure
In soccer, the goalkeeper is the quarterback. He is the leader and receives both positive and negative attention.
“To play this position you have to be able to handle the pressure that comes with it,” Thompson said. “You stand out if you make a mistake, but at the same time, if you do something well it also stands out.”
His stats prove that he is handling the pressure well. This season he has compiled a record of 8-3-2 and has logged more than 1,100 minutes in the net. Thompson has allowed only nine goals, while recording 46 saves.
“Kerry has grown as a player and has matured,” Bluem said. “Part of his maturity has been handling the pressure of being a goalkeeper.”
Now, Thompson is looking to add more pressure to playing keeper after he leaves OSU. He hopes to take his game to the next level.
In 1994 soccer took a big step into the spotlight with 10 new Major League Soccer teams. The MLS established itself as the fifth major professional sports league in America.
“I think he has pro potential and I am not the only one thinking that,” Bluem said. “A lot of people I have spoken to believe he will be a draft choice and get a crack at the MLS.”
Like other professional sports, MLS will hold training camps and draft in February. Thompson will participate in the camps with hopes of getting his shot at professional soccer.
“I would love to continue to play soccer after college,” Thompson said. “I would love to stay in Columbus to play at the next level. I could remain close to my family and I could still follow OSU. But if I got the chance I would go anywhere, it really isn’t up to me.”
After Soccer
Thompson will graduate in March with a degree in communications and a minor in finance.
“I became a communications major because I am interested in being a press secretary or something that involves communications and relations,” Thompson said. “I have been fortunate enough to meet people in the field and they have given me some good advice.”
Thompson became interested in communications after talking to family and friends who have jobs in the field. He is especially interested in political or business communications.
“The day-to-day negotiations that occur in businesses or in the political arena really interest me,” Thompson said.
He became interested in finance at a much earlier age because both his father and stepfather have jobs in that field.
“I decided to minor in finance because I knew a little about it and I had an interest,” Thompson said. “My stepfather owns a financial planning firm, so he has given me some advice about the field. My dad is also involved in the field.”
Close to Home
Thompson decided to come to OSU for several reasons, but most importantly because it was close to home. He went to Dublin Coffman High School where he was a member of the boy’s soccer team all four years. As a senior, he was named All-OCC, All-district, All-state and was voted his team’s MVP.
“I think there are more advantages to him being close to home than he realizes,” Valerie Chornyak, Thompson’s mother said. “He is still away at college, but he can still come home for a good meal whenever he wants to.”
OSU wasn’t always at the top of Thompson’s list.
“I looked at a couple of schools out in California. My top three were probably UC-Santa Clara, UC-Irvine and OSU,” Thompson said. “But when I visited those other schools they just didn’t feel right.”
That was OK with Chornyak who has been able to watch her son grow into a top goalkeeper.
“Two years before Kerry went to college ‘OSU’ was a dirty thing to say around our house because he wanted nothing to do with a school that close,” Chornyak said. “But I am really glad he did choose OSU because it allows us to be able to see all of his games and to give him continued support.”
Off the Field
Not playing soccer, Thompson is a very different person. He is a quiet, unassuming guy that you would never believe was a Division I goalkeeper.
“Kerry is very quiet and has always been into athletics,” Chornyak said. “He is almost the complete opposite of a goalkeeper.”
Away from the soccer field Thompson enjoys going to movies and hanging out with teammates, friends and family.
“I’m pretty boring,” Thompson said. “During the season especially, because there isn’t much time for me to do other things.”
Thompson and two other seniors will play in their final home game as Buckeyes tonight when OSU faces Michigan at 7 p.m. at Jesse Owens Memorial.
