The word ‘career’ usually doesn’t have much meaning when it comes to the average high school kid. Career day, career exploration, career path—sure, that all gets talked about. But for most kids, their listed occupation is student. 

But if that young person has been pursuing a second vocation for 13 of those years, what else can you call it? Calan DeWalt, all of 17 years old, has been playing soccer for about that long. It all started out of curiosity. “I grew up watching my sisters play and decided to play myself,” he recalls. He clearly fell in love with the game.

DeWalt was also exposed to professional soccer players and coaches in his days playing for the Crew Academy. “Coach Eric Dutt has been there for me since my time at the Crew Academy,” DeWalt says of his most influential coach. “He has always been reassuring, but he also knows when I need someone to not be nice and stick it to me.”

DeWalt’s father, who flirted with a professional baseball career, has been a big influence as well. “He has experienced all these ups and downs already with his time playing baseball,” Calan says. “His advice and support have been crucial to my athletic career.”

Now playing the position of center back for Dublin Jerome High School and Ohio Premier in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) travel circuit, DeWalt is ranked among the top 12 players in the state. He has put in the work over the years to earn that distinction. “When I was playing for the Crew Academy I would be at the facility for four to five hours a day,” he says.

DeWalt embraced the student-athlete lifestyle, which he urges young players to do if they want to be successful. “Fall in love with the grind because you will miss out on fun activities, you will get injured,” he says. “You can work harder on that off day, it’s all a part of the grind.”

Calan has played all over the country and played in top level tournaments including the Generation Adidas Cup, MLS Next Playoffs, and ECNL nationals. He counts a game saving play in the Adidas Cup as his greatest soccer memory. “We were playing a team that was one of the favorites to win the whole tournament,” Calan recalls. “We were tied in the last 5 minutes. We got a free kick and I assisted the game winning goal with a header back across.”

DeWalt’s next stop will be at the University of Akron, where he will join one of the collegiate powerhouse programs playing Big East Conference competition. At Akron, DeWalt will play alongside teammates from around the country and around the world. We expect him to make a name for himself while he’s there.