FINDLAY, Ohio — With a 4-1 victory over Bryan on Thursday night, the Liberty-Benton boys soccer team advanced to the OHSAA Division IV Regional tournament, aided by the play of senior Garrett Nealis, who scored a goal to help the Eagles win their third district title in school history.
"The thing that stands out to me most is what we've accomplished as a team," the center midfielder said.
A true winner in every sense of the word, Nealis has played a pivotal role in elevating the program to new heights.
"He's not a selfish player, he wants to share the ball," said head coach Aaron Troyer. "Sometimes your better players want to go out and score goals. That's not Garrett, he wants to help the team."
On top of staying alive this postseason, Liberty-Benton improved to 19-1, which breaks the single-season wins record (previously held at 17). While credit does go to the team's all-time leader in points with 198, it also goes to Nealis' charisma.
"He's a great kid number one," Troyer said. "Then on the field, he's a tremendously skilled player. The best all-around skill on the ball I've ever seen at this level."
Nealis' talent has led to multiple school records and accolades; his 67 assists for a career and 29 assists this season both rank No. 1 at Liberty-Benton. He recently earned North Central Ohio Soccer Association (NCOSA) Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, too.
"He'll have the ball in really tight spaces, two, three, even four defenders and he gets out of it almost every time," Troyer said. "That's something that's almost innate but he's put in a ton of work."
The all-state caliber player doesn't just use his feet for the pitch, either, as he's simultaneously assisting Liberty-Benton's football team, which is also playoff-bound with an 8-1 record and ranked No. 14 in the state for Division V. Nealis secured All-BVC honors as a kicker in 2023.
"It's been great. Deciding to kick for the football team is one of the best decisions I've ever made," Nealis said. "Made friends and it's been fun."
No matter the stage, the senior has found a way to embrace any form of competition. While the skill is immaculate with 66 career goals to his name, the presence he provides nets an even bigger impact.
"As a legacy, he's one of the best if not the best to come through here," Troyer said. "What he's done on the field with his stats and how he plays, just been a tremendous player for us."
Nealis talked about his legacy as well, adding he wants to be remembered for more than just being a wizard with the ball.
"I'm hoping one of the things I can leave behind is what I do on the field, not just as a player but a person," Nealis said.