Same game, new place: Cooklin and international Colonials bring success to George Washinton soccer
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BVM) — With over 4,200 international students calling George Washington University home, the school features a large international population with students coming from over 130 different countries.
The Colonials’ soccer team roster reflects their status as a hub for students around the world. Players on the 2020-2021 roster hailed from the United States, Switzerland, Germany, England, Iceland and Portugal.
The international-heavy roster includes winger Tom Cooklin, from Lewes, England. Growing up in the birthplace of soccer, Cooklin began playing at a very young age.
“I’ve been playing since I was four; at least that’s what my parents tell me.” Cooklin said with a smile.
Prior to coming to the United States, Cooklin played for Newhaven and Sussex County in England.
Leaving England for the United States for University was a choice Cooklin made based on the importance of his academics. As an exercise science major at George Washington, Cooklin has enjoyed the opportunities provided by an American liberal arts education.
“It’s so different from how I learned in England,” said Cooklin. “If you get a degree in exercise science you only learn exercise science. I took like ancient medeterranian civilization [at George Washington], which I’d never do in England.”
At George Washington, Cooklin has been given the opportunity to learn and continue to play at a top level; a balance that would’ve been far harder to strike across the pond.
“I wanted to carry on my academics whilst playing soccer at a high level,” Cooklin said. “If you go to university in England it’s more academics based. Soccer at University in England is student run. You don’t get coaches, you don’t get facilities. I wanted to carry on playing at a high level whilst getting my undergraduate degree, and the U.S. was the best opportunity to do that.”
As a sophomore at George Washington, Cooklin achieved great feats in both academics and athletics. In 2020, he was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team, as well as the A-10 All-Championship Team for his performance in the Colonials’ deep tournament run.
Adapting to life in America involved a lot of changes in the classroom as well as on the pitch. When asked, Cooklin described how different the game is played and trained for in the United States than in England.
“Since I’ve been in America I’ve done a lot more gym work,” said Cooklin. “In America the facilities are 100% better. We do a lot more strength and conditioning and especially on the pitch it shows. Everyone you come across is a lot more athletic, and the game tends to be a bit stronger and faster than it is in England.”
So far, Cooklin has more than adapted to the new style of play.
In the semi-finals of the A-10 Tournament against the Dayton Flyers, Cooklin swung in a cross to Arlington, Va. resident Carter Humm, who headed the ball on to German forward Sancho Weber for the game-deciding goal.
“To get that goal was massive,” Cooklin said. “We had to take the lead. If we went down, it would’ve been difficult to come back. They were definitely seen as the top team to win.”
George Washington would defeat regular-season champion Dayton 1-0 in an upset victory, advancing to the tournament finals due to brilliant play from their international players.
Cooklin mentioned the diversity of the roster as a strong point for the team.
“There’s so many different personalities,” he said. “Different styles of soccer are represented in each nation. If you talk to the Germans, the style of soccer in Germany is a different variation from the style in America. It’s also just really interesting to get exposure to all the different types of culture.”
Cooklin and the Colonials will look to build off their success next season in fall 2021.
Despite language gaps and cultural differences, the entire team is on the same page for next season: they want to win the A-10 division.
“We’re 100% set out to win the A-10,” Cooklin said “Everyone is on board with that. We want to win the A-10 and get to nationals.”
The Colonials will face tough competition next season, including 2021 A-10 Tournament Champions Fordham University and 2021 NCAA Tournament at-large bid University of Massachusetts.
