West Orange goalie has many talents

Soccer. Weightlifting. Competitive cheerleading.

These are three activities that aren’t typically thought to complement one another. But for Alec Holland, a senior goalie at West Orange High School, the sports fit together nicely.

“Weight lifting — you’re going to be stronger than you normally would, so that definitely helps you when you cheer, lifting (other cheerleaders) up,” Holland said.  “And then soccer, you see a 230-pound goalie and nobody’s really going to come and kill you. I’m definitely the presence of the team.”

Holland’s background and experience mainly resides with soccer. 

Growing up in Miami, Holland started playing soccer at a young age. When he moved to the West Orange area at the end of elementary school, he spent some time playing basketball. Florida Rush enticed Holland back to soccer in his freshman year of high school. He plays for both the Florida Rush and the varsity team at West Orange High School. 

Holland spent most of his freshman year on the junior varsity team, although he played a few games on varsity and has started as West Orange’s varsity goalie since his sophomore year of high school.

Also in his freshman year, Holland started going to the gym and lifting weights with a friend. This year, he decided to get serious about strength training, as well as joining the Warriors’ competitive cheerleading team after other athletes on the cheer team encouraged Holland to join. 

Holland even surprises on the soccer field. He usually blocks penalty kicks, as can be expected of a talented goalie, but sometimes he also steps up to take a penalty kick — confidently — against the other team’s goalie. It was something Holland did a number of time during the Warriors’ run to the state semifinal last season; West Orange finished as the state runner-up in Class 5A.

“I think it’s intimidating,” he said. “Nobody sees a goalie go up against another goalie.”

Holland’s unusual size for the game also gives him a presence on the soccer field. 

“In the box, no one can push him around,” said Scott Fisher, the West Orange boys varsity soccer coach.

West Orange (7-2-3) is on a five-year district winning streak, and Holland hopes to win the district.

“We knew coming into the season that this was going to be a rebuilding year,” Fisher said. “We’re far from the favorites to win district, although I think we have a shot. We’ve improved every game.” 

After a rough start to the season, the team has put together a seven-game winning streak. The team hopes to continue that success into play against challenging district opponents. 

To get to district play, Holland hopes to set a good example to his teammates and keep his head cool in the game. 

“There’s a lot of young guys on the team, so I try to be a role model and show how to behave in the (classroom),” he said. “Then I get out here and not let (the other team) score.”

A key part of being a successful goalie is the ability to stay calm and focused even if a goal is allowed. Participating in other sports has helped Holland with the mental challenges of the soccer. 

“A different coach might yell differently than another coach,” Holland said. “And cheerleading is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at [email protected].