MEDINA — Cole Callard poured over the Medina record books growing up. But it took years before realizing he could etch his name in them.
With the ball at his dancing feet, Callard would make a move in either direction, keeping defenders on high alert in the process. And once an opportunity presented itself, the 6-foot-1 midfielder fired a shot and the goals began to pile up.
By season’s end, Callard walked away with numerous accolades, his name at the top of numerous. In 69 career games, Callard recorded 98 goals, 42 assists and 140 points, all new school records.
And, along with receiving the Niagara-Orleans League Player of the Year, Callard helped Medina win 15 games and advance to its first Section VI final in four years, finishing as B2 runners-up to Southwestern. Callard was at the top of the section, leading all goal scorers and Medina’s new single-season record 44 goals and had 64 total points.
The combination of breaking Medina’s records and being unstoppable on the pitch earned Callard Greater Niagara Newspapers Player of the Year. As Callard gained more experience at the varsity level, the stronger his desire for the records became, after an 18-goal campaign two years ago.
“After my first couple years, I was like, ‘I can definitely do this,’” Callard said. “And then, obviously, being able to do it is a big accomplishment, as fun as putting the ball in the back of the net.”
Callard provided his talents in other facets for Medina’s offense, too. He registered a point in 17 games, with five multi-assist games, including a season-high three in a Class B2 quarterfinal win against Silver Creek/Forestville.
But once he found the back of the net, Callard couldn’t be stopped, scoring multiple goals in 11 contests. Callard recorded a season-high five goals twice in contests against Albion and Roy-Hart, one year after his seven-goal performance against Buffalo Academy set the single-game record at Medina and the second most ever in a New York State game.
Callard didn’t have to look far to get hooked on playing soccer. Growing up, Callard enjoyed watching his cousin, Medina 2018 graduate and Roberts Wesleyan player Ethan Leonard, play as a center midfielder, the same position he would eventually play.
But along with watching YouTube videos and Medina games or competing in travel leagues, Callard participated in multiple camps. To start, Callard’s parents enrolled him in the Olympic Development Program, a once-a-month program for five months at Sahlen’s Field when he was 13 or 14 years old.
Callard later joined training camps at Buffalo State and Roberts Wesleyan two years ago, where he learned how to attack the open space and not be afraid to make mistakes. But the ODP camp helped develop his craft.
“The ODP helped a lot with my ball skills, learning different touches and different moves,” Callard said. “That was probably the main thing I learned from them, just a lot of ball skills and stuff that helped open up space on the field. … Just doing 100 touches or 1,000 touches, it’s a bunch of different skills that you can do. Just working on your first touch. Wall ball is a big thing.”
Since attending the offseason camps, Callard also spent three years playing year-round with the Lockport Lightning of the Lockport Soccer Club, allowing him to compete against faster and more skilled players. But the progression also came during each of his four seasons at Medina.
With Callard in the lineup, the Mustangs won 48 games, the most by any player in program history, and posted double-digit wins three times. Along with his skill with the ball, Callard expanded his offensive style of the play with his passing over the four years.
“He knows to give the ball up to get it back in a better position,” Medina head coach Steve Luksch said. “Let the defense concentrate on him, whoever has the ball, and he just takes off and everybody forgets about him for a second or two and then he’s got you beat… He’s super unselfish but he’s super smart at the same time … I knew he wouldn’t take a bad shot.”
With the high school season over, Callard faces a decision on what he wants to play next, between continuing with soccer or pursuing kicking in football, which he dual sported with the Mustangs for three seasons. Callard is weighing his options and hasn’t made an official choice, but is contemplating a roster spot for kicking at SUNY Cortland and an offer for soccer from Berkeley College, a USCAA Division II school in New Jersey.
Soccer became Callard’s first passion at age 5, but his interest in kicking grew as he got older. For three years, Callard worked with Medina coach and NFL Pro Bowler Mike Vanderjagt on his kicking, which led to competing in events, including the Kohl’s Eastern Showcase in May in Pennsylvania.
“It kind of opened my eyes,” Callard said. “I think, with football, I kind of have a better opportunity, because it’s here in America. And then soccer, you got all those European countries where there’s a lot of good, good players, so I think I have a better chance to go farther at football.”