Name: Nick McCormick
Age: 18
School/Grade: West Milford High School, Grade 12
Activity/Club/Sport: Soccer, basketball
This week we Take Five with Nick McCormick, a senior at West Milford High School who plays both soccer and basketball. However, it's soccer that really energizes him. He has great memories with his teammates and is an Eagle Scout. Be sure to go to westmilfordmessenger.com for our bonus five with Nick.
1. How did you get involved with soccer?
I first started playing soccer in 2nd grade. I had just quit playing football and my mom had told me I needed to choose another sport to play. I wasn’t sure if I would like it, but I thank my mom to this day because I fell in love with it from the first day I started.
2. Who is your biggest inspiration?
My parents are definitely my biggest inspiration because they have set the standard for who I want to become. My mom has been my inspiration in my school and my community efforts because she has shown what it means to be determined and to give back to your community. My dad has shown me how important it is to balance family life with everything else going on in life, and that is something that I will value for the rest of my life.
3. What would most people be surprised to know about soccer?
Most people would be surprised to find out that soccer isn’t boring at all: they just have to give it a chance. Soccer falls behind the conventional sports of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey in the U.S. but if you closely watch a full soccer match and learn the intricacies of the game, you can quickly become hooked. As soccer legend Andrea Pirlo said, “Soccer is played with the head. Your feet are just the tools.” These complex makeups of soccer are vital to the game and once you unlock them, you open up a completely new world to appreciate and enjoy.
4. Who is your favorite teacher of all time? Why?
My favorite teacher of all time is Mr. Norris, my 10th grade US History teacher. Mr. Norris came in as a long-term sub, and I wasn’t expecting much (after all, history can sometimes be a pretty dry topic). However, Mr. Norris brought the class to life and he made me enjoy a history class for the first time in my life. The passion he showed toward teaching history is something that I admire even today.
5. Share a favorite moment with your team.
My favorite moment with the soccer team has to be sweeping Lakeland this past season. The first game was a great 1-0 win for us, and the way we came together defensively at the end of the game was truly special. The second game was even more memorable because we were losing for a large part of that game. However, we came together as a team and turned the game around. We scored a great team goal to force the game into overtime and scored again to clinch the game. The way we united as one to battle back and eventually win is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.
High school, friendships and great soccer moments really are the best memories! It's great you took the time to enjoy them, Nick.
Do you know someone who should be featured here at Take Five? Let us know by emailing nyoffice@strausnews.com. Give us their name and contact information. We want to showcase all the great young men and women of the township.
Bonus five
5. Name three things you would bring with you if you were on a deserted island?
I would bring a soccer ball, a lot of music, and food.
7. What does being a Highlander mean to you?
For me, being a Highlander means living by the values of Highlander PRIDE: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, and the Dedication to Excellence. These values play a key role in my life, both in school and in the community. Being an Eagle Scout, I have dedicated myself to not only living by these and other key ideals, but by encouraging others to live by them as well. In my sports career, I have learned to live by these values after the big wins and the tough losses. In my community, I strive to live by these values when giving back in various forms of service. These experiences have highlighted just how much being a Highlander has affected my life.
8. What do you do with your time, when you are not playing soccer?
I am currently on the varsity basketball team, and that takes up a lot of my time. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends whenever possible, whether it’s just hanging out or playing ping pong (There really is nothing better than being around your best friends and making memories for the rest of your lives). Additionally, I am a very big fan of music and will always find a way to incorporate music into my life.
9. What is your favorite movie, book, or character? Why?
My favorite movie is “Remember the Titans.” I first saw the movie in 8th grade, and it is the ultimate sports movie. It is my favorite movie because it embodies what it’s like to be on a true team. The way the team in the movie came together to form a single unit even in a time of heated segregation in the community was something truly inspiring to watch. The team mentality is something that I can connect with on multiple levels, so watching this movie was very moving for me. I have taken this movie to heart in my sports life. I try to create a true team bond throughout the whole team at the start of a new season in order to be the most effective team possible.
10. Share something no one knows about you.
One thing no one knows about me is that I once got left alone on a subway platform in Vienna, Austria. I had run ahead of my dad to make the train waiting at the station, but he went to a different door on the train. I had stepped off the train to follow him, but while I was on the platform the doors closed and I was left alone on the platform for five minutes until my dad came back to get me.