BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer senior defender Adam Grove (Indianapolis, Ind./ North Central) is the leader of an extremely young Yellow Jacket soccer team. The three-year team captain takes his role seriously and also knows being a leader helps him prepare for the future, including next year when he attends physical therapy graduate school.

Grove has been a strong force on the BW defense for the past three season while serving as team captain the past two seasons. In his career, he has played in 48 games and started in 45 of those games. Last season, the two-time Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree played in 18 games and scored his first career goal.

So, what brought Grove from Indianapolis to Berea?

"It was not an easy choice," said Grove.  "I chose BW for many reasons.

"First, it was about the size of school I was looking for in a college.  It wasn't too big where you would rarely see a familiar face throughout the day, and it wasn't so small that you would know every student intimately.

"Second, the student-to-teacher ratio was one of the best of all the schools I researched during the recruiting process," continued Grove. "Having the privilege to speak face to face with a professor either during a lecture or during office hours was a must for me and allows me to learn and take away more each lecture.

"Finally, what convinced me to choose BW was the soccer program," said Grove.  "From head-to-toe it is a great program. From the training facilities, to the athletic training staff to the coaching staff.  Every staff member does an excellent job of making this program feel more like a family than just a soccer team. That was ultimately the reason I choose BW."

Grove also indicated that BW Assistant Coach Louie Rolko '07 and Head Coach Reid Ayers made the transition to Berea and easy one.

"Louie [Rolko] was the biggest reason I came to BW," said Grove. "He came to many of my games as a high school athlete and continually talked to me during the recruiting process. He was constantly asking me how I was doing not only with regard to my soccer training, but also as a person. He made it clear that he was genuinely interested in me as a person.  As my time at BW has on, he and Coach Ayers have only reinforced my first impression."

This season, Grove is one of just three seniors on a team that includes 20 freshmen. Junior midfielder Justin Herrin (Santee, Calif./ West Hills) has seen Grove's leadership habits first-hand and appreciates it.

"Adam is the hardest worker on the team," said Herrin. "He leads by-example through everything that he does both on and off the field. He is constantly trying to make people around him better. He is very driven and constantly has a positive attitude."

"Senior leadership will be extremely important for the team this year," continued Herrin. "With 20 freshmen and two transfers on the roster and a young team overall, we will need the seniors to step up and lead the team in the right direction. We have a good group, so getting everyone on the same page will be a key."

"What makes Adam a great vocal leader is the fact that he can be loud and demanding or he can be soft and understanding, depending on the situation" said Herrin.  "He knows how to be loud and demanding without being demeaning, which is one of many reasons he is so respected by the team. He is a guy that any player can go to with just about any type of problem or situation and he will be willing to help."

Although BW is just one week into preseason practice, the freshmen already know that Grove is a leader.  They look up to him, respect him and enjoy his positive attitude.

"We love Grove [Adam]," said freshmen Cannon Dees (Berea/ Berea-Midpark) and Kyle Klimo (Berea/ Berea-Midpark) in unison. "He is a great leader and really knows how to help make practice and playing soccer at BW fun and competitive at the same time.

"He has a great attitude," said Dees, a midfielder.

"Adam is the man," said Klimo, a corner defender. "Right from the start he took us under his wing and made us feel at home. The whole atmosphere at practice, on the bench, on the field or wherever is fun."

Grove both appreciates being a captain and understands the responsibility that goes along with the title.

"When I was given the armband as a sophomore, I was definitely a 'soft' type of leader and led more by-example," said Grove. "I would rarely bark orders to others and more often tried to do the right things and set a good example.

"As I have grown as a captain, I have learned from the upperclassmen before me and others around me how to be a more vocal leader. Now I would say I a much more of a vocal leader but I believe I will always be more of a leader by example."

Along with his success on the pitch, Grove is a biology major and carries a 3.68 grade point average. He is also a Dean's List student, a Jacket Scholar and a member of the Alpha Lambda Honor Society.

"Adam has been an incredible student-athlete, player and leader of our program," said 14-year Head Coach Ayers. "He epitomizes the values that we want in our program and has been instrumental in shaping our team culture. I have no doubt that he will be extremely successful in his senior season and after he graduates and leaves BW for graduate school."

In his sophomore year, Grove had aspirations of being a physical therapist after tearing his groin muscle and personally having to go through the tedious and painful process of rehabilitation. "Through the experience [the torn groin muscle] I grew to like the practice because of the simple fact that I would be able to help people in a tangible way and see the results on a weekly basis," said Grove.

He credits the BW biology and men's soccer programs for preparing him to handle the challenges that lie ahead at grad school.

"BW's biology program has taught me many valuable lessons and has instilled in me a better work ethic," said Grove. "The experiences I have had with this men's soccer team will stay with me for a lifetime and provide guidance for me down the road."

Where is Grove's next stop?

"I have not applied to any physical therapy graduate schools yet," said Grove, "but my top three choices eight now are the University of Colorado, Northwestern (Ill.) and Indiana University."

So, has Grove's BW experience been worth the trip from Indy to Berea?

"Absolutely," said Grove. "I couldn't imagine being anywhere else during these four years. Both the friendships I've made off the field with fellow students and professors to the brotherhood that we have created through soccer with each and every one of my teammates will be with me for a lifetime."

Two of the friends that Grove has a special connection with, Zach Haynes '17, last year's starting goalie, and Zach Smith '17, a starting defender a year ago. Both Haynes and Smith are completing their degrees this year and are members of this year's coaching staff.

"I have been close with both throughout my four years at BW," said Haynes. "My junior year I really bonded with them. The experiences I shared with these two will never be forgotten and I'll forever consider them as family. They both played and continue to play a huge role in pushing me to be both a better soccer player and man."

Grove's journey has taken him from Indianapolis to Berea and the next stop is graduate school. He feels that wherever he lands, he will still have the five biggest influences in his life at home and at BW in his corner as supporters.

"It was always tough when I would leave home to go back to school," said Grove. "My mother [Teresa] alwys had the waterworks going, and she was happy for me and the fact that I love BW.  My father [Richard] and brother [Mitch] also have taught me a great deal about life and doing things the right way."

"Coach Ayers and Coach Rolko have also been huge ifluences," said Grove. "They have taught me that everything in life is worth overdoing, and what it takes to be a part of something bigger than yourself. They have taught me a great deal about character and I know that both have made me a better person and man."

"Finally, I would like to thank my YoungLife Leader who taught me a great deal about being a Christian," said Grove. "He [David] taught me about Jesus and how and why I attempt to live my life like him every day."

The Yellow Jackets open their season on Friday, September 2 when they travel to Erie Pennsylvania to participate in the Herb Lauffler Memorial Tournament hosted by Penn State-Behrend. BW opens play against Hiram College at 7:30 p.m.  The consolation and championship games will be played on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 5:30 and 7:30, respectively.