The Quintessential Competitor

It’s a rarity, to be sure, because what middle schooler could handle the physical rigor and mental challenge of competing in a fast-moving, skill-intensive, not-for-the-faint-of-heart, sometimes rough-and-tumble sport with guys four or five years older?

 

Charles Nolde, for one.

                                                                                                    

A senior forward and tri-captain this fall, Nolde not only made the team before he reached high school but started from the very beginning.

 

During his five seasons, one of which was truncated because of COVID protocols, the Cougars have amassed a 71-8-5 record, making him possibly the winningest player in program history.

 

They’ve also won three consecutive Prep League titles (2021, 2022, 2023) and a VISAA championship (2021) and reached the state semifinals in 2022. This season, they’re 20-1 and ranked No. 1 in the VISAA, and No. 15 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.

 

“From Day One, Charles was all-in,” said Rob Ukrop, the Cougars’ head coach. “We were super happy to have him. As an 8th grader, he was fantastic. He’s a super kid.”

 

Over time, Nolde has grown into a leadership role, as much by actions as by words.

 

“His engine is contagious,” Ukrop said. “The way he works makes everybody work harder.  There’s not a drill that we do that we don’t get 100 percent from Charles. When your best player and most impactful player is the hardest working player, it sends a great message to the younger guys.

 

“He doesn’t care who scores the goal or gets the assist. He just wants to win. Everybody says they’re that kind of player. Charles actually lives that.”

 

Not that Nolde hasn’t recorded impressive stats. Through 21 games, he’s scored 27 goals (seven of which were game-winning) and contributed 20 assists. In the post-COVID years, as the Cougars have gone 57-4-1, his ledger reads 47 goals (including 14 game-winning) and 42 assists.

 

Does scoring or assisting give him more joy?

 

“I find joy in assisting,” he said. “I don’t think of myself as a goal scorer although I do have a good number of goals. The celebration after you score is more exciting than an assist, but, overall, I enjoy assisting more.”

 

The quintessential competitor, Nolde has also played basketball and lacrosse and ran a season of winter track as a junior. Soccer, though, is his passion.

 

“After sophomore year, when we had that really good team and won states, I found more joy in soccer and decided to zero in on it,” he said.

 

“The skill and talent we had that year showed me how fun it is to be that good. That motivated me and helps me motivate the rest of our team to compete to be as good as we were that year. I think we’ve definitely achieved that and are arguably just as good this year.”

 

His affinity for soccer runs more deeply, of course.

 

“I like how each play is different,” he said. “It’s a game of improv. You don’t have these set plays. You have a lot of space to work with. My athleticism translates best to soccer with a big field and a lot of running.

 

“The most fun part is the passing combinations you can make with your teammates. It’s a pretty game when you have such a large field to spread out and play the ball on the ground. I do like the running part. I’ve always liked to run.”

 

Pretty game? In fact, Ukrop often uses the term “beautiful soccer.”

 

“It means fast but disciplined ball movement,” Nolde said. “Getting a lot of people on the team possessing the ball and moving it back and forth and work the way from the back from our goal to the opponent’s goal.”

 

Nolde also plays in the Richmond Kickers and Richmond United programs. Year-round soccer (or year-round anything) could be a grind, but Nolde finds only joy in the experience.

 

“I just approach every practice and game with a positive mindset, always thinking about having fun first,” he said. “Obviously I want to win, but I also want to have fun and enjoy it. That’s why I’m out here.”

 

Nolde’s world isn’t just sports. He’s the SCA co-chair and a member of several extra-curriculars such as the Darr-Davis Investment Club, Ducks Unlimited, and the John Maloney Project. He’s also taken a demanding class load heavy in honors and AP classes and sports a 4.15 cumulative grade point average.

 

An All-Prep selection as a sophomore and junior and All-State and All-Metro honoree last year, he’s drawn the interest of college recruiters, of course, but he’s made no decisions and continues to weigh his options.

 

“I have a lot going on, for sure, but that’s taught me how to manage my time and prioritize what I need to prioritize,” he said. “It’s also taught me how to ask for help when I need it. I can trust my peers and adults to help me with that. Having this busy schedule has just helped me grow as a person.”

 

Through five seasons, Nolde has a host of memories.

 

“Last year when we played St. Christopher’s at City Stadium for Senior Night,” he said. “We went down 0-1 early on and ended up winning 5-3. I scored in the 89th minute to take the lead 4-3. Then we had a breakaway where I passed it to Matthew Jenkins and he scored to make it 5-3. That was a really good memory.

 

“And, of course, the state championship sophomore year. And our game this year (at City Stadium) against St. Chris (a 4-1 victory) was very exciting. Fun to be out there with the crowd. Really energetic.

 

Monday at 3 p.m, the Cougars play Trinity Episcopal on the Charlie Blair Field in the quarterfinal round of the VISAA tournament.

 

Do they feel pressure being the top seed? Hardly.

 

“Being number one isn’t pressure,” Nolde said. “It gives us confidence and solidifies that we’re the best team. If we play hard and to the best of our abilities, we’ll win. Rob says he likes to be the hunted. I agree with him.”

~Weldon Bradshaw