Keaton Cook

Micah striking a hit on the ball during a game.

Junior Micah Scholtens has played soccer for 14 years, but his accomplishments don’t stop there. He recently started leading the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He maintains a 4.0 GPA while managing school, sports, and faith. He does his best to balance the intersection of athletics and faith, be a leader in various environments, and advise people who want to try new things. 

“I’m always trying to [think] how can I show my faith to other people,” Micah said, “and however I can show Jesus’ love.” 

The FCA is an organization that helps athletes enhance their sportsmanship while keeping their faith—Micah not only plays soccer but is an avid believer in God. Micah has many talents; one of those talents is his math skills as a Forest Hills Charitable Investments member, which donates money to non-profit organizations and helps people less fortunate than him. Last year, the club donated money to Feeding America, a non-profit organization that feeds people through food pantries and shelters.

As a leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he leads the group in morning prayer and teaches lessons on different parts of the Bible and how fellow members can implement them into their lives. He enjoys doing this because he can express his faith and connect with other Christians. This creates a closer sense of community in his life; expressing his faith makes him an approachable and fun person to be around. He plans to keep being a part of FCA.

“I think I will [still be involved],” Micah said. “I mean, last year, I was just a member, and this year, I stepped into a leader[ship position], and I really like it.”

Being an athlete is a ginormous part of Micah’s life. As a junior, Micah has the great accomplishment of being captain of the boys’ varsity soccer team. He spends time showing his dedication and commitment in many ways. By using his Godly will, he tries to enforce a positive environment for everyone on and off the field. Although it is hard since he plays center back—a defensive position—it is possible.

“It’s hard in-game,” Micah said. “How do you do it as a student and a person in society? I think doing that as a student is just being kind and respectful of others and doing what’s right. I’d look at myself as a kind person.”

Micah sees God work through him by encouraging people to try new things, like soccer. He enjoys advising people on what to do if they want to play soccer, but ultimately, he encourages them to just try it if they want to.

“Especially off-season, at conditioning and everything, that’s probably the biggest part. Soccer, I’d say, is a pretty hard sport [when] you’re in,” Micah said. “I know, for me, as a center back, I’m playing [the] majority of the games, the full game, all 80 minutes. Nutrition’s a big part of that, too. I think for other people, I’d say if they want to try it, you should just go for it.”

A significant central theme throughout Micah’s life has been his connection with God. Micah tries his hardest to be the best version of himself in school. He takes five Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which are college-level courses for students to expand their learning and potentially receive college credit. He is in AP World History, AP English Language and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Pre-Calculus. Outside of school, he is achieving an outstanding feat as a captain and tries his best to do it with kindness. Managing his time takes work, though. The balance of it all can be a struggle.

“It’s hard,” Micah said. “The balance is hard at times [when] I’m staying way later than I would like to, but I’d say the outcome outweighs the cost just because of the fun I’m having.”

In addition to his in-school and athletic Christian achievements. Micah tries to help in and outside his community as much as he can, which is why he is also a lifeguard during the soccer off-season at the Mary Free Bed YMCA. This helps him achieve his devotion to God and help out in his community.

“I try to be a leader in the community,” Micah said. “Helping the community means being a good leader and an example to people. I also think helping others is very important, and the goal is just to make our community a better place for everyone.”