Luke Farley, son of Chad and Holly Farley will attend Monmouth College as a member of the soccer team. During his time at NCHS, Luke has been an active participant in activities including: soccer, BETA Club and the CEO program.
What made you decide this school was the best fit for you?
When I went on a visit to the campus, I was amazed by the atmosphere of not only the soccer team but the school as a whole. Their football team was playing that day, and it seemed that the entire school was there to support the team. The school is a small, close-knit community similar to what you would find here in Newton.
How do you feel NCHS has prepared you for this next step in life?
My time on the NCHS soccer team allowed me to build a level of discipline, leadership, and confidence, which has allowed me to play at the next level. Also, while I’ve been at NCHS, I’ve learned a lot academically, and my time in the CEO program has led me to pursue a business career.
What are at least two life lessons you have learned from sports?
a. It was in high school I fell in love with the sport of soccer, I played for the high school team my freshman year, and after not getting a lot of playing time I realized I had a lot of room for improvement, so that spring I played club soccer for EIFC which developed me enough to win a starting spot my Sophomore year, this taught me that if you work hard enough you can do anything you put your mind to.
b. After my sophomore spring season, I realized EIFC wasn’t the best option for me anymore, so I talked to my dad about finding a new higher-level team, which is where I decided to try out for Gateway Rush, which was an NPL-level team in the Saint Louis area. I fortunately made the team, and it felt like everything in my soccer career had led up to this moment. I played for this team in the spring of my junior year, traveling all over the Midwest and developing as a player. This change helped me realize that I have faith in my ability as a soccer player, and success is always an option.
How have your coaches (and assistant coaches) helped prepare you to play at a collegiate level?
In my time at NCHS we’ve had the largest coaching staff to date, and the most experience as-well. Coaches like Josh and Ryan were able to give a fresh professional point of view, based of their experience coaching in playing outside of the US, which has allowed me to better understand the strategic side of soccer which changes a lot at the college level.
What will you miss the most next year about not being at NCHS?
Next year, I will definitely miss my friends and teammates more than anything, these are a lot of the people responsible for the changes I’ve seen in myself throughout my time at NCHS, and I hope I find quality friends and Teammates at Monmouth to further grow as a person.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’m really looking forward to my future as a fighting Scot and I wish the best for my teammates still on the NCHS soccer team, and I hope I made a lasting impact on the program and my teammates mentality’s.
