Austin Urban doesn’t get deterred easily. If a player beats him, he hustles right back into the play. If things don’t go his way the first time, he finds a solution.
It’s the kind of determination that was instilled in him at a young age, and it is what has carried him through the ranks of the Durango High School soccer program, from the C-team as a freshman to junior varsity as a sophomore and to varsity as a junior and senior.
“I’ve had a pretty typical experience,” he said. “I was lucky enough to make varsity my junior year, and it’s been a lot of fun. We had a pretty good push into the playoffs that year, but I feel better about this year, and hopefully we’ll go a lot further this year with the team we have and the way we’ve been playing.”
Urban is a defender and senior captain on the Demons boys soccer team. He paid his dues to get on the field with the varsity squad, and his play has been so good head coach Dalon Parker struggles to find time to substitute him out of the game. Luckily, Urban has the athleticism to stay on the field as long as needed.
Parker is a fan of Urban’s and the example he has been able to set for the team and Durango’s young players.
“He’s meant a great deal to us,” he said. “He’s one of those players that’s moved up from C-team to JV and then varsity. Not to go against players that skip all that and go straight to varsity, but there’s something to say about players who learn to work their way up from the bottom and see ultimate success. You need those guys in your program.”
Parker credited Urban for his hard work in the classroom and for taking a full workload of AP classes while still being able to juggle his duties on the soccer field.
“His parents taught him to work for what he wants, and you can see it,” Parker said. “He’s shown other kids that if you work hard you can get something out of a situation. A lot of kids nowadays, you push them and then they complain or quit for something easier. He’s not that type of kid, and he’s been good for our program.”
No. 12 Durango (12-3-1) defeated No. 21 Denver West 2-1 in thrilling fashion Wednesday in overtime of a first-round Class 4A state tournament game. Now, the Demons will travel to take on No. 5 Longmont in the second round Tuesday.
Urban only sat out the final 30 seconds of that match after taking a knee to the thigh, but he won’t forget the moment Saylor Longfellow flicked in the second of his two goals for the win.
“It was just like winning the Montrose game for the league title,” he said. “There was nothing in my head but joy and running on the field to get in the dog pile. Best feeling of my life.”
A year ago, the Demons lost in the second round at Littleton. This year, it’s the same situation but a trip to Longmont approaching. But, with the workman-like effort and passion of this year’s team, Urban believes the time is right to push deeper into the tournament. He certainly hopes so, because the end of this season will be the end of his high school soccer journey.
“We have more heart this year,” he said. “Last year we maybe had more skill, but this year we have the heart that it takes to get farther. I want this season to go as far as possible, and I’m excited for what we could do.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
Who is your favorite athlete?: Robin van Persie
Do you have a favorite superhero?: The Flash
What is your favorite song?: Kings Never Die by Eminem feat. Gwen Stefani
Where is your favorite place to take a date?: The Lion’s Den is a good one.
What is your favorite outdoor activity in the area?: Backpacking by far. I live right next to the Colorado Trail which is cool. I like mountain biking/backpacking; biking trails and camping.
Where is the worst place you’ve had to travel for a game?: Pueblo Centennial. It was a rough field
What teacher has had the greatest impact on you?: At Needham Elementary it was my one male teacher, Mr. Morris. In high school it was Mr. White. He moved away last year, but I had him for math a couple years, and he made a huge difference.
Do you have any hidden talents?: I would run track if not for club season soccer. I’m more going to college for academics rather than sports, but I’m hoping to make the Colorado Mines soccer team. I’m hopeful about that, but I’m strong in math and sciences.
Do you have any superstitions:? I always have the same routine on game day. I pack everything I need the night before, eat a bowl of raisin bran with some toast and wear the same boxers for game day, but they’re clean!
