Cassville senior soccer player Jackson Ray drew a line in the sand as he entered his final year of high school last fall — no college without soccer.
On April 19, Ray committed to both for this fall, signing to play soccer at Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly.
“It’s great because I always told my mom I wouldn’t go to college if I couldn’t play soccer,” he aid. “It’s great to pursue this and get to play at a higher level.”
Jake Forste, Cassville soccer coach, said Ray has been a key member of the Wildcats all four years, and he has grown immensely over that time, literally.
“I’m super excited for Jac,” Forste said. “Back when he was a freshman, he was undersized and skinny, but he always was the guy who made plays, lots that don’t show up on the stat sheet.
“He has several hockey assists, [where he passed to the player who passed to the goalscorer], and he has great vision and sees plays as they happen. He’s pushing elite field vision because he processes the game at such a high level.”
Picking up the height and weight, Forste said Ray will be a force in collegiate play.
“He’s grown a lot and has a decent frame, so he can hold up against that stronger competition,” Forste said. “We added more talent around him, and in terms of development and where he’s started to where he’s finished, he did not start at a super high level but he finished at one. By the time he was a senior and had his ankle injury, he was able to still play a little center back and defensive mid because his defense had become such a strength.”
Ray said he chose Central Christian College of the Bible because, though he is undecided on a major, the college has many programs of interest.
“Being a Christian college, I also know it will be a good environment, and they were one of the ones to reach out to me about playing for them,” he said.
A four-year letterwinner, Ray has an abundance of memories from playing for Cassville, but his favorite, he said, came during a practice.
“I have so many good memories, but my favorite is probably when Carson Whittemire (now Ray’s brother-in-law) slide tackled Coach Forste in practice and had to go sit in the parking lot,” Ray said.
Preparing to join the new team in the fall, Ray said he’s excited for the change of scenery. He has been playing with many of the same teammates in high school and at the Seven Valleys Soccer Club since middle school. He and teammate Ashton Wheeler are the first two from the Seven Valleys, since its inception in 2018, to sign to play soccer in college.
“I look forward to playing with people I’ve never played with before and at a high level,” Ray said. “I’m excited to see the difference from high school to college and the skill level of my opponents.”
Forste said if his college career is like his prep career, Ray has a bright future ahead.
“It’s all abut growth,” he said. “We won two games in Jac’s freshman season, and this year, we won 15 and score 85 goals and let in only 25. His commitment to playing year-round and his quality is why he is moving on to the next level.”
The Wildcats went from 2-17-1 in Ray’s freshman year to 15-8-1 this Kyle
season, tallying the most wins for any Cassville boys team since 2007, as far back as Missouri State High School Athletics Association keeps records.
Ray is the son of Curtis and Barbie Ray, of Cassville.
