Stokes hopes to double up in college

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Ask Ryan Stokes to name his favorite sport and you've put him in a tough spot.

But the answer would be that football is No. 1 for the Merrillville senior and soccer is No. 1A.

The question is relevant because Stokes, the star striker for Merrillville's soccer team and the record-setting kicker for the Pirates football squad, is in the process of figuring out where he will go to college.

"Yes, I definitely want to go (play) football," said Stokes, who kicked 11 field goals and was a first-team Associated Press Class 5A All-Stater last fall. "But if possible I would also love to play soccer. Whatever schools I talk to for football, I also find out if they have a soccer team (and) if they do, what is their take on (playing both sports)."

Stokes knows that college coaches -- especially in Division I, which is where he figures to wind up -- are a little more selfish when it comes to sharing athletes than his Merrillville coaches (Zac Wells in football and Brian Past in soccer).

Past and Wells have worked out a schedule that allows Stokes to get practice time with both teams and also be available for soccer games on Wednesday and Saturday, along with Friday night football.

"He likes a pretty busy life," Past said of his standout, who had 21 goals last fall and has 48 in a varsity career that started when he was a freshman.

That was especially true this summer. Stokes had a full slate of activities with the Pirates soccer team, including a team camp at IPFW, tournaments at Zionsville and Pendleton, and various scrimmages.

He also did all he could to get his name out to football coaches, visiting kicking camps literally from coast (Maryland) to coast (Stanford) as well as many places in between.

The idea was to plant a seed in college recruiters' minds in case they decided they needed a kicker in a few months. "They want to see the kickers they have now," Stokes said. "I've talked to all the football coaches. They all say, 'Don't get frustrated. It's not that you're not good. Kickers, just (have to) face it: They're the last ones that come (to campus).'"

So while Stokes bides his time waiting for the scholarship offers in football and/or soccer, he will put all his energies into writing what could be a happy ending to his competitive soccer career. Knowing that he might not play the sport in college adds to his sense of urgency.

"The last couple of years in the sectional, losing in double-overtime last year, the year before losing on an own goal -- they hurt," Stokes said.

The psychic pain isn't the only kind Stokes has endured. When he came to high school three years ago, it was a little tougher to hold his own physically than it is now.

"Ryan isn't the most imposing kid," Past said. "He might be 5-10 on a good day. ... He was a pretty slight kid (before)."

But Stokes is no pushover anymore, even as the sport has become more rough-and-tumble.

"His freshman year, he would be pushed around on a soccer field," Past said. "He definitely has solidified his body type."

"When I was a freshman, I wasn't as strong, I wasn't as quick, I wasn't as fast," Stokes said.

But soccer isn't a one-man game, even if the man is as talented as Stokes.

"One thing we want to do is develop another player who can shoot," Past said. "At times we had that last year. That's one of the things we hope we'll be better at this year."

Mike Enghofer, Walter Barcenas and Nick Mojica all are teammates who could help share the scoring load and keep opponents from paying all their attention to Stokes.

From what he's seen so far, Stokes expects to be sharing the wealth.

"I definitely think this is one of our strongest years for our team depth-wise," he said. "I definitely have a full 10 around me or a full 14 (including subs)."

For what might be his soccer farewell tour, Stokes wouldn't have it any other way.