MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison graduate Isaac Chitwood’s path to professional soccer wasn’t exactly a yellow brick road.
It’s had a number of twists and turns. Actually, it’s probably just beginning.
But it’s already a story worthy of review.
The 2020 Madison graduate is playing for the Cleveland Crunch, of Major League Indoor Soccer.
How did he land that gig?
“I made the roster through a public tryout,” Chitwood said. “Crazy story actually, I had gotten back from Italy, where I was playing previously, on a Friday and the Crunch tryout happened to be that Sunday.
“I was very fortunate to not have been dealing with as much jet lag as I imagined, and I was able to play well enough in the form of scoring a hat trick of goals, to have been selected out of a group of 40+ players that attended the tryout that day.”
We asked Chitwood to share his story, and here’s the tale:
RICHLAND SOURCE: Can you take us through your career in soccer from the beginning?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: Oh, wow, this is a loaded question. To begin, I started playing soccer around 5 years old, although I found a fascination with dribbling a ball around with my feet much younger.
I got into club soccer not too long after and played with clubs such as the Mansfield Crew, Ohio Strikers United, and Appleseed Premiere. I also had experience with Escolinha Fla, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, around middle school — which I was very fortunate to experience as well.
I have a summer birthday, so entering high school, I was almost a year younger than most of my classmates, and saying I was undersized would have been an understatement. I remember getting excited my freshman year, when I finally hit 100 pounds, at the height of 5’2″.
Needless to say, I didn’t play much varsity that year. But that didn’t change my mindset when I was not given the varsity gear bag the following year either. I was 5’4″ and 120 pounds my sophomore year. But this year I did play a considerable amount of varsity, yet not enough to earn a letter, unfortunately.
All of this motivated me, and I knew in my heart, regardless of size, I was a good enough player to earn playing time. The following year, my junior year, I had earned that varsity spot and grown a little too, I was 5’7″ and 130 pounds. Not a starter, but I played significant time and I felt like I was coming into my own as a player. I got a varsity letter that year, my first.
My senior year, I was a starter, amongst a group of 18 seniors, and had decent production as well. I was 5’9″, still around the same weight at this time. I earned my letter, and the team reached the district finals.
After high school, I wasn’t highly recruited. Some letters here and there, but I had my eyes on returning to Brazil, where I had played in middle school for a short stint.
Unfortunately for me and my fellow classmates, our graduating year was 2020 (COVID). That made the idea of travel impossible, so I looked local. I had graduated high school with an Associate’s degree, and I initially did not intend to go to college.
However, I found a good opportunity in Ashland University. I ended up putting my name in the transfer portal after a year, where I found a program that allowed players like myself to go overseas.
Through adversity such as an ACL tear in June of 2022 and other hardship such as an infection that almost cost me my eye in April of 2023, I spent the next few years kicking around on different trials and experiences in countries such as Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, and Croatia, some of them multiple times over.
Upon leaving that situation in the fall of 2023, I landed on the Cleveland Crunch.
RICHLAND SOURCE: What position did you play and what was the highlight of your varsity soccer career with the Rams?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: Most of my career was spent playing left wing/left midfield depending on our formation. However, I did spend some time at either side’s fullback come tournament time my senior year, which is the position I have found myself in most often post-high school.
Man, when it comes to one highlight, that is tough. I think the biggest highlight for me came my junior year, at home, against Ashland. I don’t remember the score at the time, but we were winning already.
We set up for a corner kick, and the ball fell to me at the back post. Instinctually, I reacted, took a touch, and whipped the ball back-post. I scored. The crowd celebrated, my teammates and coaches celebrated, and I heard my name announced over the loud-speaker. This was my first varsity goal.
It was such an important moment for me, because it served as a physical confirmation that the belief I had in myself leading up to this point was justified.
I still remember the president of Ohio Strikers United had texted me after the game and told me that I should work on my goal celebration, because there would be many more opportunities for me to exercise it coming, and I believed him.
RICHLAND SOURCE: Can you break down your soccer stint at Ashland University?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: I played at Ashland one year. I ended up getting recruited to play fullback. Unfortunately, by the time I had decided I had to go to college due to the inability to travel during 2020, the scholarships had been given out, so I was designated as a preferred walk-on.
RICHLAND SOURCE: Was there a soccer highlight at Ashland University?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: This is what is interesting about my experience at Ashland. I was given no playing time. Not saying I had deserved it either, we had a good team! One that went on to win the conference championship that year.
I believe that everything in life happens for you and not to you. And I believe that leads to the highlight of my career. Although the highlight wasn’t on the field, the thing that stands out most to me about my experience at AU was who I pushed myself to become.
At AU, I found that extra gear, and I forced myself to become the hardest-working player and person I could be.
That experience and that mindset I earned that year has been a prime driving force for what motivates me today.
RICHLAND SOURCE: What is the strength of your game on the pitch?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: I think physically, my greatest strength is speed. I had run track one year in high school, before my senior year was canceled due to COVID, and got the fortunate opportunity to run in college as well.
But I think the traits I’m most proud of are the mental ones, such as tenacity and determination. I believe these are my real strengths.
RICHLAND SOURCE: What area has the most room for improvement in your game?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: The area that has the most room for improvement for me, is probably quick decision making. I believe this is what separates good and great athletes.
When I train, this is what I like to train on the most. This trait is one of the reasons athletes have long careers, because as their athleticism fades, their minds are still sharp.
RICHLAND SOURCE: Can you offer some details on the Cleveland Crunch and the league?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: Absolutely. The Cleveland Crunch is a professional indoor soccer team that plays in the MLIS (Major League Indoor Soccer). The season has already started.
Since it is indoor, the season runs from January to April. We have played two games already with a record of 1-1.
For all of that information such as schedule and where to get tickets, check out @ClevelandCrunch on all social media or theclevelandcrunch.com!
The Crunch carries a pretty significant roster of 38, although 16 are selected per gameday.
When it comes to age, some are close in age to myself, although most are in their later 20s and early 30s. I could be wrong, but I believe I am the youngest player on the team by a year or so.
This is a theme I have been used to since high school, but back then it was to my detriment and now it only gives me more time to grow as a player.
RICHLAND SOURCE: What’s it like playing professional soccer?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: It is the dream. It is the beginning of everything I have worked so hard thus far to achieve.
Now, I am only a rookie, so I can only speak in a limited fashion on what the true experience is, but so far I love it.
I think the toughest adjustment is what you realize when you go to the next level even from high school to college, the game gets faster and faster. The better the players, the quicker the game is able to move.
RICHLAND SOURCE: What is your goal as a soccer player?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: Ultimately, advancement is the goal. Whether that’s self-advancement in the form of excelling in my current state, or progressing to other opportunities.
If the right European opportunity came calling, I would love to explore that option, but the most important step is always the next one, and wherever that road leads is where I will follow.
RICHLAND SOURCE: Anything you’d like to add specifically that we didn’t ask you about?
ISAAC CHITWOOD: I would just like to say, throughout my entire journey one of the most important things I gained was my relationship with the Lord, and because of that, all glory should be to Him.
Beyond that, I’d like to give thanks to anyone who has been alongside me through this journey, such as my friends, family, and coaches, the Lord knows I could not do it alone.
More than anything else, I would aim to be proof that self-belief and belief in God can allow anyone to achieve what they set out for in life.