43
Howland’s Gilmour brings goals, gospel to Brazil
A 2012 Howland High graduate probably has more of a bond with some impoverished youth living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, than those same youths have with their government right now.
But that’s the power of goodwill through Goals and Gospel, which is a combination of soccer and the word of God that students from Cedarville (Ohio) University tried to foster during a recent trip to Brazil’s most populous city prior to the World Cup, which is now in progress.
Twenty-year-old Connor Gilmour was among a group of seven that had the opportunity to visit that country during a three-week trip last month.
As a soccer sophomore-to-be at Cedarville, Gilmour was part of a missionary trip with a fellow soccer player, Jeremy Hoppe of Dayton, their assistant coach Grant Knight and four others — friends of Knight from Germany, Italy, Romania and Florida.
The Cedarville contingent spent its time giving soccer clinics in Sao Paulo, although other venues of World Cup group and finals games are Rio De Janeiro and Brasilia among others.
“My assistant coach set it up,” Gilmour said of Knight, who played and trained in Brazil and who also played as a pro in Austria.
“Eventually, we want to be a program that develops players so they can play at the next level after college,” Knight said. “This is the first step in comparing our players with those around the world.”
Grant said the trip’s purpose was two-fold. First, to get his players exposed to different styles of play. Second, to spread faith through sports by sharing the love of Jesus with youth who live in squalor.
Gilmour, himself, has international experience, starting with a trip to Italy and Germany with his Ohio-based Olympic Development Program team while in the seventh grade.
“It was mostly as a tourist, but we played a few games,” he said.
As a ninth-grader, Gilmour’s Olympic Development team went to Italy, strictly for a soccer tournament, and, between his junior and senior high school years, Gilmour played briefly with a team in Denmark through his Cleveland Futbol Club coach.
Connor, the youngest of four children of Bill and Annette Gilmour, graduated from Howland High as the school’s leading scorer with 76 goals. He was also a two-time all-state selection.
But an ACL tear in his left knee during a pick-up game prior to his arrival at Cedarville forced Gilmour to sit out his freshman year.
From the bench as a redshirted freshman, Gilmour watched Cedarville post a 17-1-3 record, yet the Yellow Jackets failed to make NCAA Division II playoffs.
“We could have gone to a National Christian College [tournament], but it would have been pretty expensive,” he said. “We would rather have done NCAA.”
Then Gilmour came back full-go for Cedarville’s exhibition season in the spring of 2013, followed by an impressive fall season, when he was the team’s leading scorer.
“It was pretty prestigious when Connor was chosen a national-player-of-the-week,” Knight said of a breakout three-game stretch during which Gilmour had six goals.
“We weren’t sure how much he’d bounce back, but he had a fantastic past fall and was our leading scorer. He’s dynamic. If given the opportunities, he’s just going to get better.”
The 2012 Vindicator soccer player of the year also lettered in football, swimming and track. A sister, Heather, was a two-time OAC swimmer of the year at John Carroll and sister Erin played soccer at Malone and soccer and softball at YSU.
Last fall, Cedarville’s record was 13-3-4, including a 1-1 tie with Xavier, but the Yellow Jackets failed to get a postseason bid, again.
“We’re transitioning into D-II, so we’re just getting a taste of the competition,” Gilmour said of his school, which plays in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference against teams such as Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.), Ohio Valley, Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.) and Davis & Elkins (W.Va.).
“We never played that big of a Division I school, so it was nice to tie them,” Connor said of the Xavier game.
This spring, Cedarville tied Kentucky, 1-1, in a first-time meeting, but lost to Wright State, 2-0. He had a 12-goal fall season.
“It was the first time Cedarville ever played Kentucky,” Gilmour said of the jump in caliber of opponent. “We’re getting there.”
Gilmour scored the lone goals against Kentucky and Xavier.
However, his biggest collegiate goal was against Shippensburg, when he side-volleyed a corner kick into the net.
“I jumped and, while in the air, I struck the ball to change its direction towards the goal and it went in.”
As a high school senior, during his only football season with the Tigers, Gilmour did kickoffs, field goals and extra points and had one tackle.
Gilmour said the Brazil trip was a great experience.
“I fell in love with the people, nation and culture. It was amazing how God gave us soccer skills to help spread the gospel, using sports as a way of ministering.”
The 29-year-old Knight, who graduated from Wellington High School near Medina, said he attended 2010 World Cup games in South Africa when Spain won, but he couldn’t be in Brazil this time.
“I had a commitment to attend Cedarville head coach Brett Faro’s wedding on May 31, so we had to get back,” Knight said. “That’s why we didn’t stay longer.”
Because of their economic plight, the disadvantaged in Sao Paulo have protested against excessive spending on preparation for the World Cup.
“It’s a comparatively booming economy, but the growth is widening the gap between the rich and poor,” Knight said, “so a lot needs to be done.”
Asked what Gilmour means to the Yellow Jackets’ program, Knight explained, “He carries what the future of Cedarville soccer is about: to be able to play at the next level and to be a dynamic player on the field and a dynamic leader off. He symbolizes what we are trying to achieve.”
After giving clinics in the slums, the Americans passed out medallions and other fun things that the children don’t have.
While college students on mission trips usually help build houses, Knight and Co. didn’t build anything except bridges of hope.