Jacob Rockhold first CHS soccer player to get college scholarship

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The addition of soccer to the roster of Chillicothe High School sports three years ago turned out to be very well-timed. Despite still being in its infancy at the school in most respects, the sport already has given one CHS student the opportunity to have some of his post-secondary education paid for by dint of his prowess on the pitch. On Dec. 17, 2008-09 CHS senior Jacob Rockhold signed his National Junior College Athletcis Association letter-of-intent to play college soccer at Blue River Community College in Independence during the 2009-10 school year. “I’m excited and ready to play,” Rockhold told the C-T immediately after he and his parents Jeff and Jaci inked the paperwork for Blue River head coach David Owens. “I’ve got to work hard, but I’m really eager.” Part of the five-school Metropolitan Community College system in the Kansas City area, Blue River just completed the second year of its soccer program. The only men’s sports program (there also is women’s soccer) at the campus in eastern Independence, just north of Blue Springs, the Trail Blazers more than doubled their win output of its first season with nine victories this past fall. They compete primarily against other Missouri and Kansas jucos. “We’re looking for next year to really take the next step and legitimize ourselves, as far as other community colleges in the state and also against the Kansas schools, too,” Owens told the C-T after signing Rockhold, one of three new players he’s inked so far for the 2009-10 campaign. Blue River is a commuter school (no on-campus housing). It has its own on-campus soccer field now after playing its home games on the Maple Woods CC field its first year. Maple Woods is the only other MCC system school with soccer. “The core of our team we want to be local players,” Owens stated. Of having a player he coached be good enough to get a college scholarship after only two years of the CHS program’s existence is very gratifying and pleasing to Hornets coach Bill Allison. “It’s very exciting,” he told the C-T after witnessing the historic signing. Jacob’s worked exceptionally hard to get where he’s at. A big team player.” Allison noted that Rockhold’s on-field success wasn’t a solo effort. “It didn’t happen just with him. He had a lot of support around him last year (2007) and this year (2008),” the CHS coach declared.