James Monroe senior Owen Jackson might be considered a late bloomer.
However, when he blossomed, the multi-sport standout exploded into something special indeed.
Monday afternoon, Jackson capped an incredible senior season by signing a National Letter of Intent to play soccer for Concord University.
“This is great. I have always wanted to play soccer at the next level,” Jackson said. “I have always wanted it, so when the opportunity came, I jumped on it real fast.”
Jackson was a scoring machine this past season on the pitch netting 26 goals to earn all-state honorable mention honors in Class AA-A.
Playing for a school that has been dominated in the fall by football, then basketball in recent years, as well as baseball, earning a college scholarship in soccer was no easy task for the senior striker.
“It definitely wasn’t easy, but I hope with me signing that it can help build the soccer program,” Jackson said. “I definitely didn’t see it coming, but in my junior year I really started pushing myself. I am happy that I did.”
Jackson also had to sell himself a little bit, but he found the right suitor in newly hired Concord men’s soccer head coach Alex Smith.
“I sent them an email and sent them some highlights. Coach (Smith) called and I toured everything and I loved it,” Jackson explained. “I was already going to Concord, then this came about and I was really happy about it. I would have never dreamed this when I entered high school.”
Making the journey to Athens even more impressive is the fact that, unlike many other dominate soccer players who started at an early age, Jackson did not start playing soccer until middle school.
“I started out playing Little League football, but I didn’t really like that,” Jackson admitted. “Then I started playing soccer in eighth grade and all four years of high school. It is definitely my favorite sport.”
While soccer is at the forefront for now, Jackson also proved himself to be a solid placekicker for the football team.
Kicking the football also came along late in his high school career.
“I only started kicking this past August. I thought about it previously, but I didn’t want it to ruin my soccer game, I guess you would say,” Jackson said. “This year was my last year, so I decided I would go ahead and do it. It was blast. Actually, it was pretty easy. A couple of practices and I was doing my thing.”
Doing his thing indeed.
Jackson earned second team all-state honors as a kicker and helped lead James Monroe to the Class A state championship game.
Jackson’s success was also a bit ironic since the Mavericks have not been know as a kicking powerhouse over the years.
“(Head) coach (John) Mustain doesn’t like to kick a lot, but he was glad that I joined the team,” Jackson said, laughing.
Jackson also said, while soccer is his love and what he will play in college, football is not totally out of the equation.
“I really enjoyed football. If soccer doesn’t work out, a lot of coaches have told me to come out for kicking. That is something I might do,” Jackson explained.
The senior year exploits continued into the winter where Jackson was a key member of another state championship basketball run for boys from Linside.
Playing with a unique group who could be clowning around one minute then scoring and dunking on you the next, Jackson played well enough to be named to the Class A All-tournament team after three dominating wins in Charleston.
“Every day in practice, if you slacked off one bit, (Evans Award winner) Eli (Allen) or one of the seniors would be on your butt,” Jackson said. “We had fun though and it wasn’t just strictly business as you would call it.”
Could Jackson play a part in more hardware at James Monroe before he departs Lindside? That could very well happen, this time on the diamond.
The Mavericks have already advanced to the Class A Region 3, Section 1 baseball championship game Tuesday where they will host Greater Beckley Christian. James Monroe needs one win for the title, while the Crusaders must win two in a row.
“Last year we knew we had the team, but we just couldn’t put the pieces together. This year we have stepped it up,” Jackson said. “We have had some rough games, but we are starting to play like we should be this time of year.”
