MaxPreps Weekly Honor Roll, presented by the United States Marine Corps: Michael Konrad, Rocky River

Defense was Michael Konrad's specialty.

He grew up being a sweeper on every soccer team he played for, taking pride in shutting down an opponent's offense. Tallying points wasn't something Konrad knew much about. But that all changed this year.

Konrad moved to forward his senior season on the Rocky River (Ohio) boys soccer team and became an offensive sparkplug. Prior to his final year, Konrad had scored just three goals. As a senior, he notched 17 goals, finishing second on the team.

That transformation from a defensive stalwart to an offensive threat was a surprise to Konrad. He loved getting to experience the "other side" of the sport.

"I never realized how fun it was to score when I was back at defense," said Konrad, who had three goals and two assists as a junior. "I'd always have to make up celebrations with our goalie."

Changing to a forward after 14 years as a defensive player was certainly a work in progress throughout his senior campaign.

"I always felt like I was in the wrong place," said Konrad, who was named first team All-Conference and second team All-District this season. "I had a lot of great passes that would lead to stuff, but I didn't really know the position as well because I'd never played it before. I felt like I was just running around and making any play that I could, but I felt like I could be doing more."

Halfway into the season, everything started to click. He played off the other good players on the squad and his teammates helped him along the way.

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"I learned how to shoot better, too," Konrad said. "At the beginning of the year, I thought it was all power: if I kicked it hard it would go in. Toward the end of the year, I realized I had a strong enough leg if I just tried to place it where they couldn't get it, it would find the right spot to go in."

Konrad had the best game of his career in the district tournament opener in which he tallied five goals. In Rocky River's 50-year program history, only seven players have scored five or more goals in one game.

He didn't just make an impact throughout the season by scoring, but he was a big-time leader. He was named team captain as a junior and senior.

"His teammates recognized that he had something special in terms of being the kind of leader you look up to, an example guy," Rocky River coach Kevin Zerbey said. "(Us) coaches recognized that, too. … Everything you want from a captain, that was Michael."

The 17-year-old was a hard worker for the Rocky River program for four years. But he also was a key member of the football team for two years as the placekicker.

Going into his junior season, Konrad had never touched football pads in his life. But he was asked right before the year started if he wanted to follow in the Rocky River tradition of having a soccer player be the football team's kicker. He took on the challenge and succeeded.

"The first few weeks I started junior year I was intimidated by all the football coaches, they're always big guys," Konrad said. "I felt like I couldn't say no to them."

In his first season, Konrad was 6-for-10 in field goals, kicking a career-long 44-yarder. He was also 21-for-22 on extra points. As a senior, Konrad was 6-for-11 field goals and 30-for-32 on point-after attempts.

Konrad got his routine down early in the season to juggle both soccer and football practices. He generally went to football three days a week right after school, kicked for 15 minutes, changed into his soccer gear and went over to his other sport.

"This year, I got to focus on both sports more, even if I practiced one less than the other," said Konrad said, who even tallied six tackles on kickoff coverage.

Konrad really enjoyed the opportunity to play on two teams in the same season.

"I got to be a part of two teams, which is great," said Konrad, who has also been the starting center fielder for the baseball team since he was a sophomore. "Both cultures were great. Soccer was a little more relaxed, naturally. … It was great to get to experience both."

Konrad hasn't decided yet about where he will attend college next year, but he's always dreamed about going to Ohio State. Another dream: walking onto the football team as a kicker.
Away from athletics, Konrad is just as accomplished. He holds a 4.23 weight grade point average and is a member of National Honor Society and the Environmental Club.

Konrad is big into volunteering. He frequents Cleveland's Moriah House, a shelter for women and their families who were abused by their partners.

"I go down in the morning and play with the kids and cook them breakfast, it's like every other Sunday," Konrad said. "My favorite part is playing with the little kids. It's just so fun meeting them, and they're always so grateful."

Another cause close to Konrad's heart is taking part is the Kick-It Program, which raises money to research childhood cancer.

With the help of the community, Rocky River Middle School and the Rocky River boys soccer team, Konrad raised over $6,800 in his two seasons.

"I think it really brought our school together a bunch of times," Konrad said. "We'd sell shirts and stuff and all the money would go to the Kick-It page. The shirt would get you in free to a game or something. You'd walk around the school and see everybody wearing these white shirts that say, ‘Kick-It For Cancer.'"

People were able to give money to the great cause via a webpage in Konrad's name, at a sporting event or pledging money if he scored on the field.

Konrad was touched by the effort to raise money for childhood cancer in large part because a good friend of his had a young cousin who died from the disease. He saw how much that affected the family and that has always stuck with him.

"If I ever got down on myself in a game or something, I think about that or think about kids I've met with childhood cancer and it just instantly cheers me up — like I've got to go make this next kick," Konrad said.

Konrad has always had a big heart and his soccer coach noticed that early in his career.

"He's that type of guy: looking out for other people and selfless and trying to help out wherever he can in different ways," Zerbey said.

Added Konrad: "I just love making people feel like they're their best self that day."

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