 "Photo: Laura Rosser")
Leo Cubrilo, forward on the men's soccer team, is scheduled to graduate this semester from Texas Wesleyan with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Cubrilo has been a student and soccer player at Wesleyan for three years.
"He is a great person on and off the field and I will miss playing soccer with him," team mate Toby Rochau said. "It was a pleasure playing with Leo, and I wish him all the best for his future."
Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Cubrilo traveled to America in 1998, at the age of 14. He has played soccer since age 8. With a strong line of soccer players in his family, he played for North Crowley High school where he was selected first-team all-district four times
Cubrilo attended Tarrant County College for a year before he longed for a competitive soccer atmosphere. "I wanted a place close to home where I could play college soccer," he said. Granted a soccer scholarship, Cubrilo began to play soccer at Wesleyan in 2007. He was selected second team all conference in 2008 and honored with the Coach’s Award in 2009.
Josh Gibbs coached Leo for three years.
"Leo has always been a dangerous frontrunner,” he said. “I enjoyed coaching him because he is a good person and a joy to have around. We are definitely going to miss him.”
To finish up his degree this semester, Cubrilo is enrolled in 16 credit hours. He plans to look for a job in the business management field after he receives his degree.
“I want to stay in the north Crowley area for work,” he said. “I will be close to home and not far from the field.”
Cubrilo said his most memorable moment playing soccer at Texas Wesleyan was in 2008. After coming back from a three game suspension, he assisted a goal, scored to tie the match and scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Benedictine College.
But it’s the overall experience that he will miss most.
“I am going to miss the friendships with the soccer guys and the uniqueness of the small, personal community,” Cubrilo said. “I enjoyed playing soccer and it was one of the best times in my life so far.”
Cubrilo has one year left of soccer eligibility. He is considering the possibility of playing another year of college soccer.
“I might also go and try to play second division soccer in Germany,” he said.
Currently, he plays on an indoor Bosnian team. They have mini-tournaments in Crowley three to four times a month. But it is Wesleyan that stays close to his heart.
“There will never be another program comparable to the soccer program at Texas Wesleyan,” Cubrilo said. “The coaches and men will be missed.”
Leo will continue his support and passion of Texas Wesleyan Soccer. In between working and indoor soccer, he plans to attend matches next season and cheer on his Rams.
Be the first to comment on this article!