By Michael Lindsay
York Institute senior Ryan Conatser made his dream of college soccer a reality Friday morning as he signed with Great Lakes Christian College.
“It’s very exciting and good to know I’m going to a college I want to go to,” Conatser said. “It’s something I never really thought would be possible, but I’m blessed to be in this position.”
Conatser plays left defensive back for the Dragons and is a 2X first-team all-district selection, 2X team MVP and three-year captain for the Dragons. Conatser’s accomplishments come without a freshman season as it was canceled due to COVID-19.
Great Lakes Christian College is located in Lansing, MI, and competes in National Christian College Athletic Association’s Division II Mideast Regional.
“The biggest part was the coaches,” Conatser said. “They were super inviting and really preached a family culture. I prayed about it and thought this would be best for me.”
White at Great Lakes, Conatser looks to continue his education in a familiar field.
“I’m wanting to go for sports management and minor in secondary education,” he said. “When I get out of college, I can continue being involved in soccer and maybe coach somewhere.”
Soccer has been a staple of Conatser’s life since the beginning.
“My brother, Evan, always played soccer,” Conatser said. “As a little brother, I was going to follow in his footsteps. I’ve been playing since I was three years old. It’s something I love and I don’t really know another way of life.”
Soccer scholarships aren’t often signed in Jamestown.
“It’s awesome, and there was a lot of doubt from other people,” Conatser said. “That made this process even more enjoyable, and I’m hoping other younger kids will see this and use it as motivation.”
On the field, Conatser sees his team-first attitude as crucial.
“I would say I’m a team player,” he said. “I don’t care about personal achievements and I always put my team first.”
While he is already a decorated high school player, Conatser sees multiple things he needs to improve for the college level.
“A big part of that is endurance. In soccer, you never stop running,” he said. “Being able to work into their team environment is important. I’ll have to adapt and learn how to play in their system.”
Conatser’s journey to college soccer wasn’t a lonely one as he had plenty of help along the way.
“My dad (Eugene) and my whole family push me to do my best,” he said. “My coach here at York, Allison Stucker, is the best coach I could ask for. I played in Cookeville a lot during my offseason, and I had a coach there named Nathan Whitley. He taught me a lot along with my middle school coach Renee Lamb. They were all very constructive and I’ve had great coaches up to this point.”
Conatser still has his entire senior season to play before leaving for Michigan.
“It takes a little bit of pressure off this,” he said. “I get to focus on this season and not what’s next.”
