South Aiken athlete heads north for soccer
Apr. 14—One of Aiken County's most prominent home-schoolers reached a welcome milestone Wednesday afternoon, confirming his plans to make the jump to collegiate soccer.
Thomas deMedicis, known for excellence in both soccer and football at South Aiken High School, put pen to paper at the school, setting the stage for him to play for Concord University, in Athens, West Virginia.
The Windsor resident is currently in mid-season with the Thoroughbreds' soccer program, playing center back, and has served at every position for the team since coming aboard, in seventh grade. In football, he has served as both punter and placekicker.
Concord, which is a few miles from the Virginia line, may be familiar territory for deMedicis, as one of his sisters, Edith, is a senior there, also in the soccer program and playing center back. DeMedicis, listed at 6-foot-1 and 140 pounds, said he plans to study computer science and information technology.
He said his football highlights for the Thoroughbreds, from the 2021 season, include an 88-yard punt, a 62-yard field goal and a 75-yard kickoff. His soccer season, so far, includes four goals. The team is 6-5, including tournament play.
Hendrix Snyder, deMedicis' current soccer coach, credited the senior standout for "his attitude, and being able to play every position that we ask him to do," and adding to the team culture in general.
The Thoroughbreds' head football coach, Chris Hamilton, made similar comments. "He did a really good job for us, starting this year, kicking. He came out his junior year ... I'm always excited for anybody when they get to continue to college athletics, no matter what sport it's in," he said.
Concord, a member of the Mountain East Conference, has the nickname of Panthers and competes at the NCAA Division II level. It was founded in 1872 and had 1,835 students in its 2020 count. Concord's athletic rivals, in terms of conference play, are spread among Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.
