Soccer Seniors Shatter Records

Parker Grinstead

Moeller soccer standouts Parker Grinstead, Cal Collins, and Jake Renneker are having historic senior seasons. These three seniors broke a total of 7 longstanding Moeller soccer records.

Parker is a midfielder and a 4-year member of the varsity squad. He set the all-time assist record when he recorded his 33rd career assist on September 25th against LaSalle. In a conversation just the other day with Parker, he said, “This record means a lot to me, but I don’t think it truly has hit me of how special it actually is.”

Cal Collins is the senior goalie who has a long list of accolades from his four years defending the net. Cal has the most career shutouts (currently 32), most single season shutouts (15), most consecutive shutouts (7), best single season goals against average (0.56), and most minutes (over 4,000). Cal said, “Breaking these records means a whole lot because every summer I train and train and train just to be great. Also, to be able to see some reward is amazing and being able to check off my goals is a great feeling.”

Jake Renneker is a defender who has started every game of his Moeller career and set the all-time games played record of 77, on October 19th against Mt. Healthy. “Coming in my freshman year, I wasn’t expecting to make varsity. For Welker to choose me and believe in me is special to me. I never thought growing up that I would break a record at Moeller, especially for most games played,” Jake commented.

Parker, Jake, and Cal have been the glue for this team on and off the field. Clearly their play has led the Crusaders to 4 great years of soccer and laid the foundation for years to come. The three seniors have also been great leaders off the field and in the locker room as well.

Jake Renneker

Parker, Jake, and Cal handled the pressure of knowing they were on the cusp of history very well. Parker said, “I don’t think there was any pressure to break the record, because I wasn’t focusing on that at the time. I just wanted to make sure that we were getting the results we wanted.”

Cal agreed that the records were not at the front of his mind either. “No pressure at all really, I just go out and play as best as I can each game,” he said.

It is inevitable that Parker, Cal, and Jake will go down as three of the greatest players in Moeller soccer history. When asked about how it feels to be potentially known as Moeller soccer legends, Cal said, “It hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m the best there’s been, since I’m still playing. I also think the credit is given to the team and that’s where it should be.”

Parker was asked the same question, he said, “There is a long list of really good players that have gone through Moeller, and to be a part of that list is a blessing. It is a great feeling to have been a part of this program the last four years and to see how many people have supported me throughout the years.” Jake also added, “It’s really cool to be looked at as one of the best Moeller soccer players of all time. Something like that just doesn’t happen to everyone. For it to happen to me, something I would’ve never imagined. Definitely one of my best accomplishments in my life.”

As you can see, Parker, Jake, and Cal are humble about their successes and have always kept the team-first mentality throughout their historic careers.

Cal Collins

Over the years Parker Grinstead has tallied 9 career multi-assist games, and one of those games he had a career high, 3 assists against Elder his Junior year. Cal Collins had a great Junior season which went a long way in helping him breaking these records. He racked up 13.5 shutouts and he also had 7 straight shutouts the same year. Cal also tallied 108 total saves and kept his goals against average extremely low.

The three seniors have had many favorite games, saves, shutouts and assists, but when asked which was their favorite, Grinstead said, “My favorite game and assists was when I had 2 clutch assists in a comeback win against Sycamore.”

Cal said his favorite memory came against the Bombers. “My favorite save was against X at UC and it was tied 1-1 and they ripped a last second shot that was heading for the top right corner. I dove full extension and just touched the ball over to ice the game. My favorite shutout has to be against Mason in the district final last year. It was the two best teams in the city playing and everyone knew whoever won was going to go far.”

Jake Renneker’s favorite game was, “Versus Medina in the State Final, even though we didn’t win, just being able to be on that field, playing for a title is something special and something I never thought was going to happen.”

The Crusaders will look to make a return trip to the state finals this year as they grind through the regional tournament.