SHS' McAlister to play soccer for Fire Ants
Like so many young people playing high school soccer, Connor McAlister began playing the sport a decade earlier.
McAlister began playing recreational league soccer when he was four years old. He moved on to playing club soccer and the next step was playing on the varsity at Sumter High School for four seasons.
The next step was obviously to play beyond high school, but McAlister didn't know if that was in his future.
"I was hoping I'd get to play in college," said McAlister, who was on the varsity for four seasons.
The opportunity did come his way. McAlister recently signed to play with the University of South Carolina Sumter.
"It means a lot to me to be able to go on to the next level in my soccer career," said McAlister, who was a striker for the Gamecocks. "I'm just happy I get the chance to continue to pursue my passion."
McAlister was a standout performer for SHS. He was a double-figure goal scorer his final three seasons and was at or near the team lead in assists in those years as well.
He scored a team high 18 goals this past season for Sumter, which went 10-12 on the season. He was second on the squad in assists with six.
As a junior, McAlister scored 20 goals to lead the team and shared the lead in assists with several players at six. He had 10 goals and seven assists as a sophomore, both good for second on the team.
"Last year he had 20 goals and this year he had 18," said Gamecock head coach Jimmy Watson of McAlister. "He's always been able to put the ball in the back of the net."
McAlister was getting interest from USC Salkehatchie, but he felt remaining in Sumter would best serve him. Watson thinks McAlister will be a good fit with the Fire Ants.
"I think USC Sumter is getting a very good player in Connor," Watson said. "I think he fits in well there because they've got a new, young coach who is very energetic. I think that will work well with these young players."
The new head coach at USC Sumter is Skottowe Fox.
He takes over for Joel Bristol, who led the Fire Ants to a 3-11 overall record in his one year at the school.
It was USC Sumter's first season since the program was reinstated following a 5-year hiatus. USCS had a men's program for four years before it was disbanded following the 2011 season.