For Cedarcrest High School senior Chris Cole, 14 years of hard work and a passion for soccer paid off in the most gratifying way Feb. 5, National Letter of Intent day. Cole has committed to play men’s soccer at Lenoir-Rhyne University, an NCAA Division II school in Hickory, N.C. He joins the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, along with players from all over the United States and Europe.

Cole’s soccer career began at the age of 4, when he was simply following in the footsteps of his older brother.

“He always wanted to do what his older brother wanted to do,” said Cole’s mother, Susie. He had an instant love of the game. A quietly confident but dedicated leader, Cole started on the varsity Cedarcrest team in his freshman year. He was named a Cascade Athletic Conference All-Conference Midfielder in both his sophomore and junior years and helped lead Cedarcrest to a 15-3 record last season.

Cole has also achieved success with the Western College Development Association All-Stars, a club comprised of the best soccer players from several western states. Last May and June, the club went 3-0-1 in the Showcase of Champions tournament in Seattle. This exposure led him to a sports camp, where he first met coaches from Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Founded in 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne University was recently named North Carolina’s finest college by America’s Best College report. Cole visited the 2,200-student school in October and was convinced it was the right fit for him.