Two Demopolis seniors sign to play collegiate soccer

Julia Singleton readies to sign with Judson College. Pictured are (seated) Judson coach Justin Pino along with (standing) DHS soccer coach Gabrielle McVay, Mitch Singleton, Stephanie Singleton and Charity Singleton.

A pair of Demopolis High School seniors are on their way to collegiate soccer careers after signing letters of intent last week. Julia Singleton inked her NLI from Judson College last Tuesday, becoming the first DHS female player to sign since Rachel Walker did it in April 2010. Walker, who was the goalie of the DHS boys team for lack of the existence of a girls program at the time, also signed with Judson.

Singleton’s connection with Judson College actually predicated through her efforts at a camp at another local school.

Julia Singleton readies to sign with Judson College. Pictured are (seated) Judson coach Justin Pino along with (standing) DHS soccer coach Gabrielle McVay, Mitch Singleton, Stephanie Singleton and Charity Singleton.

“I actually attended a camp at West Alabama this summer where I met Coach Pino and he asked me to try out for their team,” Singleton explained of her introduction to Judson coach Justin Pino.

“I really liked her work ethic. I thought her work ethic was good and I thought she wanted to improve and get better. I kind of look at that and kind of see where someone is and what their potential is as well,” Pino said.

Singleton’s tryout proved her first visit to the Judson campus and she quickly realized it might not be her last.

“It was actually my first time on campus. I got to meet a bunch of the girls and then I tried out with them. He invited me to come back to the next weekend to their preview day where I could take a scholarship test. I got to do that and have a campus tour, so it was really nice,” she said.

“Coach was real cool about it. He said, ‘Go home. Think about it. Pray about it. Come back to me later.’ That’s what we did,” her father, Mitch Singleton, said. “She loved it. We’re happy for her. We’ve been to the school and we really like it. It’s kind of a smaller venue, but everybody is real close knit. It’s got a great atmosphere.”

Pino, whose squad finished at 8-6 a season ago after suffering some narrow defeats, will look to deploy Singleton in a suitable position in the Fall. Pino did indicate Singleton likely profiles as a midfielder at this juncture.

“Julia has been a leader from the very beginning,” Gabrielle McVay, Demopolis High girls soccer head coach, said. “With a new program, we had a lot of kids come in that really have never even played soccer. She already had a good background in soccer, so she was a really good leader for all of her teammates. She always has been. She also has a lot of experience in both offense and defense, so I’ve been able to use her as a very versatile player. She can kind of play wherever I need her in some spots, so it has been nice to have.”

Zachary Chu along with his mother Lucy Chu, father Dr. Ronnie Chu, brother Jeremy Chu, as well as coaches Hayden Mitchell and Jon Kresena.

While Singleton is headed to a program that is very new to her, classmate Zachary Chu will don the familiar red and white of a program with which he has tremendous familiarity. Chu, who is foregoing his senior season of high school soccer due to commitments with his club team Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA), has long attended camps and been around the University of West Alabama program headed by Matthew Thorn.

“The way they play is very attractive. I just want to learn from them because they demand perfection every touch, every dribble, everything they do is perfection. That’s all I’m looking for,” Chu, who has 44 goals and 17 assists during his BUSA career, said.

Zachary Chu along with his mother Lucy Chu, father Dr. Ronnie Chu, brother Jeremy Chu, grandparents Lee and Meegam Ching, and Chris and Mary Lou Doyle.

Chu signed his NLI Friday after having received the offer from UWA back in September 2017 as the NCAA Division II program was just embarking upon the best season in school history.

“I have known Zach for many years now, he is a great talent and he has a brilliant work ethic,” said Thorn of Chu, who is also a member of the Olympic Development Program. “He will be a perfect fit for UWA.”

“I think it’s a long coming because he didn’t really get into the sport until he was 10 years old. I told him, ‘Hey, listen, you’re a little too old to play soccer.’ I told him that if he sleeps, eats and poops soccer that he would be able to do something. And he did. He and his brother basically eat, sleep and poop soccer for all those years. And I’m so happy for him because of his hard work,” his father, Dr. Ronnie Chu, said. “His next phase is to continue. We’re just happy that he’s playing under Matte because he’s a great coach and it shows because they were ranked as high as number nine in the nation last year at one point. UWA has a very good program in terms of soccer and, also, they have a very good business program. His idea is to be a corporate lawyer. First things first, get a degree and perhaps MBA and then, after that, law school. Everything is falling into place for him.”

The younger Chu will likely tackle the next phase of his athletic and academic careers with the same fervor his father taught him some eight years ago when he first took up the game.

“My dad always taught me to just immerse yourself in what you’re doing and you’ll be fine,” he said.