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Kids On The Move - Matthew Sawaged
08/24/2009 - By Chad A. Safran
SKILLED ATHLETE HEADING TOWARD HIS GOALS
Summer camp is a rite of passage for many kids. Whether it is day camp, a month away from the parents in the Poconos, or a week spent improving athletic skills, all kids tend to spend some time at camp. Matthew Sawaged was no different this past summer. A standout soccer player, this Holmdel High School junior could be spotted working on his dribbling and passing skills; however, he was hoping to improve in the classroom as well, so he spent time at New Jersey Institute of Technology to gain some knowledge in physics before embarking on his honors class this fall.
Matthew certainly does not limit his achievements to schoolwork. Along with his high-level science class, honors Spanish, and pre-calculus curriculum, he has demonstrated outstanding skills on the soccer field that have allowed him to become a member of the NJSA 04 U16 National Development Academy Team, coached by Tab Ramos, a former U.S. men’s national team player and U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame member (also a recent Living In Holmdel cover story). The National Academy program is only for elite players who are projected to be highlevel college players or future professionals.
Matthew began playing soccer as little boy in his backyard in North Bergen thanks to his father, George, who is now an administrator in the Newark school system. After moving to Holmdel in January 2001 with his mother, Elizabeth (a social worker), and younger siblings, Zachary and Sarah, Matthew became part of the Holmdel Stallions travel team. Ramos did not coach that team but he played a big part in Matthew’s soccer development and gets much of the credit from Matthew for his improvement. The Stallions eventually became the Gunners as part of the NJSA04 program. “Matthew is an excellent soccer player who is very generous with his effort on and off the field. He is a loyal teammate with a light personality, and his contributions to our teams over the past 5 years have been key to our Academy’s success,” says Tab.
In 2008, Matthew and his teammates captured the Under-14 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas, becoming the first New Jersey team since 1988 to win a soccer youth national title. “Winning that tournament was one of the best moments of my life,” says Matthew, who hopes to parlay his skills into a college playing career (hopefully with Duke or Loyola [MD]).
Along with his club team, Matthew also plays on the Holmdel High team and has high expectations for the upcoming season. “I am hoping we win the state tournament. Last year we got in but we didn’t go too far. I have a feeling we are going to go pretty far this year,” he says.
With so much time spent on high-level soccer and honors academics, Matthew manages his time wisely. “I don’t watch a lot of TV. I don’t have a lot of time to fool around. I get home from school and do my homework right away. Then I have practice almost every day.” He says he wakes up at 6 am and sometimes doesn’t get to bed until midnight. But he doesn’t skip the fun entirely. He hangs out with his friends, watches football once in a while, and occasionally plays video games; however, even in his free time, he can be found doing some soccer-related activity. “I love the sport. Just kicking the ball and scoring goals is fun…gets my mind off of a lot of things in school.”
Matthew’s eye is still on his academic future. He’s already hoping to enroll in AP calculus and AP biology as a senior; he’d like his interest in biology to lead to a career in medicine. For now Matthew will focus on continuing to be a standout in class and on the field, where his intelligence and skill compensates for his slight stature (5’ 9" and 130 pounds). “I don’t win as many headers as I’d like. It’s harder to take people down,” he says. “The good thing is [that] I get through taller kids faster. It’s easier for me to maneuver around people.”
And whether it is with a ball by his feet or a pencil in his hands, Matthew knows the right direction.
Editor’s note: Matthew has graduated from the Gunners team to the National Academy program that is only for elite players projected to be Division 1 college players or pros. The games are scouted by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
STATS
FAVORITE RESTAURANTS
Buona Sera, Red Bank and Something Fish, Sea Bright
FAVORITE MUSICIAN
Drake
FAVORITE MOVIE
Life is Beautiful
PET PEEVE
people who exaggerate and dramatize
THREE PEOPLE YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH
Megan Fox, John F. Kennedy, and Lionel Messi
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