BHS soccer standout helped blend team

Alec MacCallum's soccer career started much like any other kids', on a little league team in the first grade as just something for the young boy to do to stay active. At the time, no one knew it would become such a passion or that he'd be so successful with it.

MacCallum, a senior at Bigfork High School, was recently named to the Northwest A All-Conference team for the second year in a row and was also given All-State honors. His 11 goals and six assists this season gave him the third most points in Class A boys soccer in the state. It is also believed that MacCallum, who was the team's captain this year, broke the school record for scoring in boys soccer, but without more complete records that was unable to be confirmed by the school's coaches or administration.

But all of that nearly never was, as MacCallum intended to switch from playing fall select soccer to football in the fifth grade, but missed the tryout day.

"That was probably the deciding factor," MacCallum said. "Had I played football, I probably would've stuck with that. That was sort of my mind set. But I played soccer and I got better, so I just stuck with it."

MacCallum didn't get better by chance, he put in a lot of time and effort. In addition to playing for the high school team the last four years he has played for the Flathead Force, Kalispell's select soccer team that competes against Class AA teams exclusively, since the eighth grade. MacCallum has been the captain of that team for the past three years and is commonly a leading scorer.

"It's a little more competitive," MacCallum said of playing with the Flathead Force. "The kids are bigger and faster, even though they are still all high school players."

Though it may not have been his original plan, MacCallum has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Vikes soccer program.

"I just really liked being a part of a tradition," he said. "It's just sort of an introduction into college soccer. I think if I wouldn't have played soccer, I wouldn't have made friends with a lot of the guys I did."

That may be true with one big exception – teammate Lael Richmond, who has literally known MacCallum since the day he was born. Their parents were friends long before the boys came into the world, which they did just three months apart, with Richmond arriving first.

At the time, they were living in Seattle and a few years after the boys were born they decided to go in together on buying a piece of property in the Bigfork area. The Richmonds relocated first and the MacCallums followed about 10 years later when Alec was in the eighth grade, though they visited about twice a year. The families still own the property where they each built homes that they live in to this day.

Perhaps that bond has something to do with MacCallum having all six of his assists be to Richmond this season, who was close behind him as a scoring leader in the state with eight goals.

However, the boys will likely once again be separated next year when they go to college. There is a chance that they will both attend Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. But Richmond is leaning toward staying in Montana while MacCallum wants to chase his dream of playing soccer at a West Coast college.

"Being in Montana, it's been really tough to get in front of college coaches," MacCallum said. "I want to move on and get to a more diverse place to go to school. That's why I've been looking a lot at going to a West Coast school."

He has interviewed with coaches at Willamette University, Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound, which are all Division III schools.

He has also been invited to tryout at WWU, a Division II school.

"It looks like my dream of playing in college is going to come true, which is really exciting," MacCallum said.

MacCallum is aware that despite the soccer skills he could bring to a college team, he likely won't be getting a scholarship to play. But that's alright with him. He just loves the game.

"There's a lot of stuff in your life that you're good at, but you don't enjoy," MacCallum said. "Like I'm good at school, but I don't enjoy it. Soccer is what gets me through the day. Just knowing that I can go kick the ball around or do some sprints to keep in shape. It lets me clear my head."

Although he says he doesn't enjoy it, MacCallum really is a standout in the classroom as well. He has earned academic All-State honors for four years and is currently the president of the National Honor Society.

As excited as he is to find his future team, MacCallum will be leaving fond memories of his Vikings team, especially his senior season in which he took on a new role and a new attitude.

"In previous years, I've always been the one that led by example, so I was pretty quiet," MacCallum said. "But this year I was really loud. Me and the other senior – Lael Richmond, Keenan Evans and Skyler Doak – took a lot of pride in being part of this team." 'sThe seniors tried to give the freshmen something they felt they never had when they were underclassmen on the team — acceptance.

While on the team's over night double-header road trip to Billings, the seniors decided to try something different. Rather than pairing up all the guys who were already close friends when choosing hotel room assignments, they put each senior with a freshman to help the team grow together better.

"I thought that worked out really well," MacCallum said. "It's no fun having a team where the seniors don't like the freshmen."

The team bonded well and the older boys helped their younger counterparts throughout the season.

"It was really cool to see the younger kids grow up and improve and know that we had something to do with that," MacCallum said.

MacCallum's efforts to help his younger teammates did not go unnoticed by BHS head boys soccer coach Keith Koslosky.

"Alec led by example, as he became the physical, vocal and inspirational leader of the team," Koslosky said. "Alec is a true sportsman in every sense of the word. He gave his all to himself, the team, the opponent and the sport each time he took the field."

The seniors were also able to connect with the freshmen because of their light-hearted personalities.

"We aren't the most mature guys, but I think it helped the freshmen feel like they could be part of us," MacCallum said. "When we were freshmen, all of the seniors were just too cool for us. But I think this year it was good for the freshmen to see us let loose and have fun. We showed them that we were there to just play and have a good time."

Of course having fun makes being on the team more enjoyable, but MacCallum said that it also helped the team play better.

"Team chemistry is a huge part of playing," MacCallum said. "Trusting each other is huge. Knowing what the other kid is thinking makes it much easier to play together. Playing with kids for so long just makes a big difference."

MacCallum's pride in bringing his team together and providing an atmosphere of acceptance has been felt by his peers.

"Alec was a true team leader," said teammate Dillon Charlebois, a sophomore. "He never let his personal achievements or goals interfere with the sense of team play or his willingness to assist. He and the other seniors were a true inspiration and confidence builder for the younger boys."

The coaches have noticed Alec's impact as well.

"He exudes confidence and instills confidence in his teammates," said Mike Daniels, BHS assistant boys soccer coach. "His leadership has been twofold: verbally expressed and by example. He comes to training with the same attitude, that he will put everything he has into preparing and improving himself to be match-ready."

Koslosky agreed adding that MacCallum's sense of team, in addition to his leadership and skills, was a good asset to the team.

"Alec brought a keen sense and understanding of the concept of team and his ability to evoke camaraderie," Koslosky said. "He never put himself above the team. He was simply one of the guys. He is inclusive and fiercely loyal to his mates. I believe with the help of Lael, Skyler and Keenan that he made great strides in setting the tone for the program in the years to come."

Hopefully, MacCallum will be able to carry over his experience from this year into his college career.

"The college coaches I have talked to said that I am capable of playing in college, but I just need to be extremely vocal," MacCallum said. "Coaches look at you and want to see a leader. That's the difference between high school and college. Everyone can be a leader on the field in college."

But, it will be big change for MacCallum to go from the top of the totem-pole back to being a freshman next year.

"I'm going to take a beating as a freshman," MacCallum said. "But that's what weeds people out. If I just stick with it and work hard, I think that the upperclassmen will notice and accept me. Then I'll just work my way up and I'll be right where I am now, but in college. I'll be a senior there, again, not telling the freshmen what to do, but just showing them and being loud."

However, he'll have to do it without his teammates that he has played along side for the past five years.

"I'm going to miss that feeling of going to soccer after school and goofing around with Keenan, Skyler and Lael," MacCallum said.

MacCallum will be missed by the Vikings team as well.

"As a coach, I find Alec to be one of the most coachable players I have ever had the pleasure of coaching," Koslosky said. "This is refreshing considering his talent and knowledge of the game. In some players, these attitudes do not mix well. The leadership quality Alec possesses that I find most appealing is that he would not ask his teammates to do anything he himself was unwilling to do. Alec made my job easier. What more can coaches ask for?"