Question And Answer With Guy Skord And Gavin Snyder

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Soccer standouts in high school, Guy Skord (Broadneck ’10) and Gavin Snyder (SPHS ’10) are set to begin their second season as members of the US Naval Academy soccer team.

What has the adjustment been like going from high school and club soccer to now playing college-level soccer?

Skord: It’s definitely a transition. The game is so much faster, the thinking process…you have to be quicker on your feet. Everybody was the star athlete [prior to college], so it’s very competitive. You always have to be fighting for your spot, and if you’re not, someone’s there to take it.

Snyder: Definitely getting used to how fast the game was. I’m not going to lie, I struggled a little bit in the fall getting up to speed of play. But once you get used to how fast the game is, you hit your stride and it’s fine.

 

What do you miss most about high school soccer?

Skord: Probably the Friday night games. They were a lot of fun, playing those big rivalry games, like against Severna Park. Also just seeing all the guys, all your teammates in the hallways every day, and all those guys are just your best friends.

Snyder: The guys and the coaching. Roy [Dunshee] was an awesome coach, and all the coaching staff, and then just playing with all the guys, just all the camaraderie.

When did you know you wanted to go to Navy? Did you always want to play soccer in college?

Skord: I always wanted to play in college. I mean, I played so much as a kid, I figured why not keep going with it. I was a little on the fence about going to Navy, but in the spring [of 2010] I kind of just realized the great opportunity it holds. So it just sort of came together and I thought, why not? Let’s go for it.

Snyder: Actually it was kind of one of those things that was a blessing that fell in my lap. I went to a recruit camp at the Academy, and the coach just said, ‘Hey I like you, do you want to play at the Academy?’ And I just said, ‘I’m not losing that opportunity.’

Gavin, goalkeeper, especially in soccer, is one of the most pressure-filled positions in any sport. How have you learned to deal with that pressure?

Snyder: It’s one of those things where you just keep playing and the pressure goes away. Sure, sometimes you get butterflies, but once you start playing and getting into the rhythm, I just don’t really feel it anymore.

 

Guy, you had a lot of success in your first year, which is not always the case for freshman. Did you expect that?

Skord: I had no idea. It’s a whole new situation, and you really don’t know what to expect. I just wanted to come in and do the best I could, and I guess I did that.

What is the hardest part about being a student-athlete at Navy? What is the work/sports balance like and how do you manage that?

Skord: Its tough, but they take care of us. The academic advisors, they look out for us and work out our schedules so it’s best for us during our seasons. Everybody’s very supportive, so it’s a just like any other college [for student-athletes] who have to balance their work and their schedule with their sport.

Snyder: For me it’s not really that big of a problem because soccer is my outlet, and I just look forward to it every single day. It makes me happy and actually helps me plan better around everything.

 

Your freshman year was the Navy men’s team’s first winning season in five years. What was it like to be a part of that?

Skord: It’s pretty cool, especially because when I was a kid, my dad and I, we’d go watch the navy soccer games, and they were a great team back then. Now, we’re starting to come back together now and put up winning tallies on the board, so it’s pretty great to see.

Snyder: It’s awesome. I was happy for our coach to give some success to him. He has an awesome resume and a great past in soccer. It’s just awesome to step into a team that’s definitely on the rise, and I think we’re going to make a run into the NCAA’s and definitely make a deep run into the Patriot League playoffs.

Who’s your soccer idol? Why?

Skord: Probably it’d have to be Pele. When I was growing up I saw videos of him playing, and he just became my favorite player ever since. Maybe it was because he always did those crazy bicycle kicks [laughs], but something always drew me to him as a player.

Snyder: [USA goalkeeper] Tim Howard. Amazing player. Everything he overcame with Tourette’s syndrome and all his struggles in life, he’s just amazing to me.

Did you follow the Women’s World Cup? What were your impressions of the U.S. team and the final against Japan?

Skord: It was a great game against Japan. It’s tough to lose like that in penalty kicks, but that’s the way the game is sometimes. But fun to watch.

Snyder: [USA women’s goalkeeper] Hope Solo I’d have to say is another idol of mine right up there with Tim Howard. She has an incredible work ethic. They made a great run and in my opinion they should have won, but they made a few mistakes against a team that really wasn’t as good as them.

Who is the best athlete you’ve ever played with or against in any sport at any level?

Skord: Dennison Cabral [the Baltimore Blast’s all-time leading scorer]. He was a little guy, like 5’5”. He was so talented on the ball, so quick. It didn’t matter what you did, he was going to fake you out some way and get you. I was really impressed by him. I went to his camps growing up, so that’s where I met him.

Snyder: Guy Skord. He is just the most incredible athlete I’ve ever met. Just an awesome runner, ridiculous at soccer, he’s just unbelievable.

What are your goals outside of soccer?

Skord: Tough to say. Graduate is my first goal obviously, then just go from there.

Snyder: Obviously just to graduate from the academy is the first step, then go through my five years [of service]. Right now I’m leaning towards the Marine Corp. Then after that I plan to get an MBA and then hopefully settling down somewhere.

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