Bishop George Ahr High School’s Tyler Earl, left, grapples with Monroe Township High School’s Justin Gaffrey during last winter’s Greater Middlesex Conference Wrestling Tournament. Earl is a standout on the soccer pitch and wrestling mat for the Trojans. Tyler Earl had just completed his freshman year at Old Bridge High School when he and his parents faced a difficult decision.
In Earl’s words, he had experienced what he termed “a number of distractions,” which partially contributed to his declining academic performance. It was just the opposite, however, when it came to soccer, the sport he played since he was 5 years old.
Earl was a rising star destined to play an important role for the varsity team at Old Bridge, but he could opt for a change scenery and transfer to another high school.
“We knew a couple of people
[Bishop George Ahr High School] and thought that would be a good school to give me fresh start,” he said. “In hindsight, was a good decision. When I began my sophomore year, I immediately felt like family there and felt comfortable as member of the soccer team.”
Earl had also been a wrestler in Old Bridge, and he joined Nick Tonzola’s team following soccer season.
“I wrestled at 152 pounds, but I only weighed about 140, so every match was a challenge,” Earl said. “However, just like soccer, I was determined to remain composed and focused on using my strengths to keep me in every match.”
It became obvious to Earl that he had done the right thing by transferring to Bishop Ahr. Suddenly, the distractions disappeared. He was so busy playing sports and attacking his studies with renewed commitment that he had little time to dwell on his past.
In addition, his coaches, including soccer coach Tommy Lacson and his assistant, Fred Taveras, made a huge impact on Earl’s life by the way they challenged him to excel every aspect of his life. To this day, Earl considers them father figures.
“When Tyler transferred in from Old Bridge, I knew we had gotten a good player,” Lacson said. “You could see by the way he played, Tyler was willing to give everything to his team, and I’m sure that was a reason why he was accepted by his new teammates.”
Earl has played nearly every position on the pitch except goaltender, but he is primarily a forward. “I believe I’m right for forward because my strength,” he said. “I use my speed, endurance and ball-handling skills to create scoring opportunities. I understand that job to attack the opposition regardless how I’m being defended. I have hammering me the entire game, but I maintain my composure. Mental toughness and determination are major aspects playing striker and forward.”
Lacson agrees with Earl’s self-assessment after watching him on the field the two campaigns.
“Tyler’s scoring opportunities come from assists or he has created own,” he “As a coach, I find that he is extremely coachable and listens and does what he is told.”
Last season, Earl notched seven goals and was the secondleading scorer for the Trojans. He was also named All-Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC). Bishop Ahr did not fare as well in the Blue Division, finishing with a 6- 9-1 record and 7- 12-1 overall. One of Earl’s most important team goals heading into the upcoming season is to help his team win the division title. He is also intent on making the all-GMC first team.
However, nothing will be more important than staying the course with his studies and improving his grades, which, Earl said, was the most positive development of transferring to Bishop Ahr.
“Anyone who is a student-athlete will tell you playing sports and going to school is one of the hardest things to do,” he said. “For me, changing high schools helped me in so many ways. My grades have improved so much since freshman year, and I know they will continue to get better if I push myself in the classroom like I do on the soccer field.”
Lacson said he’s confident that Earl is on the right track.
“He came [to Bishop Ahr] with the intention of not only becoming a better student, but [to also play] soccer,” Lacson said. “Bishop Ahr has a solid reputation for preparing athletes for college-level work, and that was what attracted him to the school. I know he’s intent on playing college level soccer, and I believe he is headed in the right direction.”
“I am still looking into some of my choices on the [NCAA] Division II level,” Tyler said. “Right now, I plan to major in criminal justice, and one of the reasons I decided to pursue that course was the impact my wrestling coach has had on me. [Tonzola] encouraged me to do whatever is going to make me happy. For me, becoming a police officer after graduation would be a fulfillment of my personal goal.”
Until that time arrives, Earl has another mission, and that is to push himself as hard in the classroom as he does on the field.
“Grades are the most important thing for me,” he said. “I’ve come to learn that in order to play at the next level, you need to be successful academically before the goals you score in soccer are meaningful.”