Michael Myer’s moves on the soccer field have earned him the knick-name “Flyin’ Hawaiian.” The moniker not only recognizes his skills but his Hawaiian heritage. Photo provided Carroll senior Michael Myer admittedly lives and breathes soccer.

He loves the pace of the game and how it is everchanging.

“There is always some new aspect of the game that I can take advantage of to become a better player,” he said.

And he practices those skills by kicking a ball between two couches in his family’s home east of Flora. He explains that he finds it difficult to sit still to watch TV, so when the TV is on, he practices.

And all of his practicing has paid off.

He was recently chosen by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association (ISCA) as a first team District 3 selection, one of only two small school players chosen for the honor in this district.

Myer will be compete this weekend in the ISCA All-District Teams Showcase Games to be held Saturday and Sunday at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Myer’s District 3 team will compete at 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 per single session or $8 for a weekend pass.

“This is a real honor for a Carroll soccer player,” said his coach, Dave Falkenberg. “It is the first time for a Carroll player to receive the honor.”

Myer said currently he has no plans to play soccer in college, but that may change after this weekend. Around 60 college coaches are expected to be scouting players at the Showcase Games. If he is offered an opportunity to play at a college or university that can also meet his educational goals, Myer said he would be all for it. But right now his plan is to attend either Butler or Purdue and major in business or engineering.

“I would love to play soccer at the college level, but I need to balance myself with a good education,” Myer explained.

Myer was first introduced to soccer at age five by his parents, David and Amy Myer. They enrolled him in the Carroll County Recreational Soccer League and by the fourth grade he was playing on a travel team. Always looking to improve his skills, Myer joined the Kokomo Soccer Club four years ago and then switched to a different soccer academy, Football Club Indiana in Lafayette, two years ago.

Playing center midfield the past four years for the Cougars, Coach Falkenberg said that his team’s captain took part in 75% of Carroll’s goals this past season.

According to his coach, Myer shouldered a lot of responsibility after his team lost eight seniors from last year’s (13-4) team, He contributed 12 goals and nine assists this year, bringing his career totals at Carroll to 35 goals and 31 assists.

Myer is Carroll’s all-time leading assist leader and ranks third in all-time career goals, Falkenberg said.

“He is probably the best all-around soccer player to play at Carroll,” Falkenberg added. “He’s as sharp and as nice a kid as you will find.”

Not only does Myer work hard to perfect his skills on the soccer field, he takes his studies seriously, too. He carries a 4.0-plus GPA and is a two-time ISCA all-academic first team selection. He also sings and plays guitar and is a member of Cougar Blues.

On most Saturday mornings Myer can be found “watching every single game I can” while kicking a ball between couches. His favorite player is a member of the Spanish national team, Francesc “Cesc” Fabregas. Fabregas is a professional central midfielder who captains the English Premier League club Arsenal.

Myer said playing for the English league would be his ultimate dream, but for now he is looking forward to this weekend and the chance to showcase his talents for college coaches.