“That was crazy I still think about it pretty frequently,” said Central senior Jack Brinkman.
In 2023, Brinkman’s club soccer team, Sporting Springfield, became national champions.
“I provided the assist then I also scored to put us up 2 to 1,” Brinkman said.
Last year was full of many big moments for Jack, like scoring two goals in Central’s district championship game. That gave the Bulldogs the lead for an upset victory over Webb City.
“I really love to look back on last year,” Brinkman said. “My team has never experienced something of that magnitude. I think before last year it had been five years before we won a district championship.”
Jack is the Jack of all trades on the pitch. There’s no position he can’t play.
“He started as a defensive player,” said Central Head Soccer Coach Nathan Cardoza. “But then gradually transitioned up to being our leading goal scorer the past two years.”
With a handful of games to go this season, Jack has found the back of the net 27 times. Seven more than last year.
“Pretty much any game we have scored on it is because of Jack or Jack scoring the goal,” Cardoza said.
Jack has knack for making an impact. Whether it’s for his team or helping others through a recreational sports program called Top Soccer.
“To me the way he interacts with the younger generation it’s just special,” Cardoza said.
“Some of those kids don’t get the opportunity that we have when it comes to playing soccer,” Brinkman said. “To kind of give them their own day to where they can really take in the full experience with the sport I fell in love with….it’s amazing.”
