Goal Keeper

Elgin Community College student-athlete Brandon Gonzalez, from Elgin, Ill., has dreamed of playing professionally, maybe even internationally, since his days in pee-wee soccer. But in his first semester, as his GPA plummeted to 0.7 on a 4.0 scale, he watched those big goals slip further from reach.

When recruited to ECC as a goalie for the men’s soccer team, Gonzalez struggled to balance athletics, work, and school.

“After finding out I might no longer be eligible to play soccer, I realized I needed to turn things around,” Gonzalez said.

The first step was switching his major from business to fire science, where he found a new enthusiasm for school.

“I enjoy my classes more and recognize that school comes first, then soccer.”

Gonzalez treated his classes like practice, approaching them with consistency and discipline. Through Athletes Committed to Excellence (ACE), a mandatory program for all first-semester athletes, students participate in weekly tutoring sessions, connect with campus resources such as wellness professionals or success coaches, and check in weekly with Melanie Schaefer, ECC’s sports information and academic support specialist.

By Gonzalez’s second semester, he raised his GPA to 3.4.

“He is the player who took the biggest leap forward in terms of his overall GPA,” Coach Dimitri Tsoukalas said. “After changing his major and realizing what he was passionate about, he skyrocketed and finished with one of the highest GPAs on the team.”

Gonzalez credits Schaefer and Tsoukalas with helping him make a successful turnaround.

“Melanie definitely made a big difference,” Gonzalez said. “She really understood my goals, academically and athletically, and together we picked out a class schedule that worked with playing soccer, while coach Dimitri kept me accountable and reminded me that academics come first.”

“Our doors are always open,” Schaefer said, which enables students like Gonzalez to feel more comfortable seeking advice.

Because of their open-door policy, ECC student-athletes get to know Schaefer, Kent Payne, athletic director, and Bill Angelo, athletic coordinator, on a personal level. Laughter and conversation often fill the athletic department offices.

“It is different for us because we deal with 150 student-athletes, and they are more than an ID number,” said Payne, who has been at ECC for 25 years. “We know what is happening in their lives, what they may struggle with. We get to know them, and not everyone has that opportunity.”

That support extends beyond the field. “It ensures students are accountable and know they have many opportunities for support,” Schaefer said. “We show them that we are here for them.”

Angelo, who notably achieved his 800th career win as a baseball coach last year, said his philosophy centers on failing forward.

“Sports are a great opportunity to learn life lessons,” added Angelo. “You will struggle and fail, but you must remember you can dust yourself off and start again.”

Gonzalez continues to excel on and off the field. He plans to graduate and either transfer to a four-year institution or pursue his dream of playing soccer internationally.