T.J. Cyrus
Norfolk Academy
Virginia
It would have been easy for T.J. Cyrus, the reigning All-Tidewater Player of the Year, to rest on his laurels.
He already had been named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American. Prior to the start of his senior year at Norfolk Academy, he already had signed to continue his playing career at the University of Virginia.
Instead, Cyrus worked every day to better his already impressive technique.
"The thing that makes him better is his work ethic," Bulldogs coach Sean Wetmore said. "It shows the level of maturity he has."
Cyrus also switched positions, moving from striker to center midfield.
"I opened up my game a lot more," Cyrus said. "This year I was in more of a distributor role than just a goal-scorer."
The position suited his unselfish nature, and Cyrus totaled 23 goals and 19 assists to help Norfolk Academy to Tidewater Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a runner-up finish to Benedictine in the Virginia Independent Schools Division I state tournament. He's fourth on the Bulldogs' all-time scoring list, with 90 goals and 56 assists.
The personal accolades again followed.
He earned TCIS Player of the Year and NSCAA All-American honors for the second consecutive year and was named to the VIS Division I all-state team for a third time.
Cyrus is the first to earn back-to-back All-Tidewater Player of the Year honors since Kempsville's Adam Schultz in 1996 and '97.
Though his high school season ended in November, Cyrus' skill and reputation have transcended to the international level. He has had a regular place with the U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team since January, traveling to California, Mexico, Florida and France.
Graduation has been the only thing to stop him, getting in the way of a call-up for the U-18 team's trip to Portugal in late May.
"He has extremely lofty goals," Wetmore said. "He wants to go to the best college and be an influential player there. He wants to play professionally. He sees that he has a future in the sport."
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