For junior centerback Aaron Anstead, soccer has been a part of his life for 12 years. What began as a childhood interest after moving to Texas at age 4 has grown into a sport he still plays in high school at Kingswood Oxford. Now a member of the boys varsity soccer team, Anstead is adjusting to a new position, taking on larger leadership roles, and helping his team navigate a challenging season.
Anstead first developed his love for soccer in Texas, where he played recreationally and spent one season with FC Dallas. When he moved to Connecticut, he started playing soccer in the Middle School as a sixth-grader, and has continued playing for the school throughout his time in the Middle School and Upper School.
For most of his soccer career, Anstead has played central defensive midfielder, a position that allows him to control the pace of the game and connect the defense with the offense. No matter where he is, he does great. “He’s made a big jump from last year,” senior goalie Captain Daniel Rivera said. “His composure on the ball, his technique, and his communication have all improved a lot. He’s also become much more commanding and physical, and he’s turned into a real presence on the field instead of just another player out there.”
This season, however, has held something new for Aaron. “Typically I play as a central defensive midfielder, and it’s something I’ve played for a long time, but this year I’m taking on a new role as a center back,” Anstead said. “It’s the furthest two players back on defense, typically. When we’re defending, I like denying space and winning the ball; it gives you a nice feeling when you take the ball off someone or deny them a shot.” The change has allowed him to develop new skills while continuing to use his experience to help the team.
The varsity soccer team this year has hit some rough patches and had many games before they scored their first goal. This was until the game against Trinity-Pawling. “The TP game stood out to me because I finally got my first goal on varsity and my first goal in a couple of years, so that was really special,” Anstead said. “It was also the first goal for the team this season, so everyone was so excited, and it made it even better.”
Beyond his individual performance, Anstead has embraced being one of the older and more experienced players in the starting lineup. With a relatively young team competing against top schools in the nation, he has had to adjust to new responsibilities while helping the team work through the difficulties of the season. The experience has allowed him to grow not only as a player but also as a leader. Rivera has lots of amazing things to say about Anstead. “His leadership stands out most,” Rivera said. “He’s only a junior, but he already carries himself like a captain. He talks a lot on the field, plays with real passion, and the underclassmen look up to him. You can tell he cares about the team and not just his own game.”
Outside of soccer, Anstead has another long-standing athletic commitment: swimming. He began swimming at around 7 or 8 years old and has continued with the sport for nearly as long as he has played soccer. His interest in swimming is partly inspired by his mother, who competed in Division I swimming at Davidson College.
Balancing two sports with schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and time with friends can be difficult. Anstead somehow makes it work. “It’s really difficult to balance school, clubs, social life, and soccer, but it’s just about trying to stay on top of work, using free periods and usually weekends as well,” Anstead said. “You’ll often see me doing homework on the bus on the way to away games too.”
Anstead’s success and determination to do well in the soccer season do not come easy; he has developed many different routines and strategies to help him succeed on the field and off. Rather than listening to high-energy music to get excited, he prefers calmer music to reduce stress and anxiety before a big game. He also juggles a lot and gets a lot of ball touches to make sure he is game-ready.
Looking ahead, Anstead hopes to continue improving throughout the rest of the season and to get the most out of his last two years on the team. He shared what’s next for him. “I don’t think college soccer is in the cards for me, but I would love to play club in college and at the very least intramural soccer,” Anstead said. “I love this sport a lot and can’t quite imagine not playing it competitively or at least for fun yet. I hope I can keep playing soccer in the future.”
He loves the sport of soccer but has many goals in life separate from soccer too. After 12 years in the sport, soccer remains an important part of his life. As he finishes his junior season, he is focused on improving his game, contributing to his team’s success, and continuing to play a sport he hopes to enjoy long after high school.
