Harry White, a freshman at Lincoln Land Community College, has traveled all the way from Stratford, England to attend college right here in the United States. But how in the world did he find LLCC?
Although he captained his high school soccer team four years and scored 83 goals in one season, the LLCC freshman said post-secondary institutions showed no interest in him at first.
Lincoln Land’s first-year head coach Shawn Dunas said he “watched hours of videos of international players” and noticed White’s excellent vision, finishers and poise.
“Harry had something about him,” said Coach Dunas.
White admitted, however, that he did not know LLCC existed before being recruited.
“I saw it (Lincoln Land) for the first time online.”
White said LLCC presented him with a great offer, and said. “It was a good way into the United States.”
The decision to attend college on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean came with several challenges.
The 6-foot-2-inch midfielder from Stratford quickly noticed the big culture differences and experienced a culture shock.
“It was kinda hard to adjust, really.”
Worse yet, White had to alter the way he spoke.
“I just have to talk a bit slower, he said.”
In addition, he said some words, especially the slang words from England, were different.
Springfield, IL. is not the first U.S. city White has visited.
For instance, he has traveled to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York City, and Miami.
“They (his family) come over for a lot of different holidays,” says freshman midfielder at LLCC.
When his family is not visiting on the holidays, though, White said he misses “pretty much family and friends and just hanging out.”
On top of that, White yearns for his mom’s meals back in Birmingham — where his entire family currently resides — two hours south of London.
“I miss that a lot.”
White, nonetheless, says he is enjoying his stay in the States.
“I prefer much things about the U.S., obviously. I miss a lot of things about home. … It is good to be here,” he said. “Lincoln Land is a nice place to … get your degree.”
Even though the soccer rules are the same, the freshman soccer player from England at LLCC noticed differences in the athletes and the level of play.
“It’s (the rules) all the same. … It’s quite a different game, actually. It’s not as technical. … Players over here are a lot more fit, and they stay in shape more,” he said.
In his first season as a Logger, White dominated by racking in a total of 61 points, 61 shots, 26 goals and seven game-winning goals, which was 2nd, 18th, 3rd, and tied 3rd in the nation, respectively. He led the MWAC in all of those categories except in assists, which he placed third.
White has won several awards, including being named the Mid-West Athletic Conference Player and Freshman of the Year, NJCAA All-Region 24 Division I Forwards of the Year and a spot on the NJCAA All-Region 24 Division I and the MWAC First Teams.
In addition to White, other Loggers’ were awarded soccer accolades as well: Tajay Small and Darwin Soto were named to the MWAC First Team; Connor Carnduff, who was also selected to the NJCAA All-Region 24 Division I First Team, and Ricky Crabtree were MWAC Honorable Mentions; Ubaldo Olvera, the MWAC Goaltender of the Year, and Tajay Small were announced as NJCAA All-Region 24 Division I Honorable Mentions.
With a limited amount of time to decide, White is still pondering considering transferring after this semester.
“I would not mind staying here (at Lincoln Land). I’ve got to start weighing my options and see what’s best for me.”
LLCC finished the 2013-14 regular season at 14-3 overall and 4-1 in the Conference and ranked second in the Mid-West Athletic Conference, but fell in the second round of the Region 24 Tournament to the Lincoln College Lynx, 3-5.
The MWAC Freshman of the Year is only one of four international players on the soccer team.
Yuri Pecanha, who attended Centro Educacional High School, and Rafael Carvalho, who went to Colegio e Curso Icaro, are both from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tajay Small studied at Eltham High School in Kingston, Jamaica.
Ryan Wilson can be reached at [email protected] or 217-786-2311.
This was published in the April 9 edition of The Lamp.
