How La Vergne soccer star Jordan Beslin went from shy freshman to feared ball-striker
Many high school athletes hold part-time jobs while they're in school, but the one Jordan Beslin sought sticks out to La Vergne soccer coach Alan McMillan.
"He got a job at Chick-fil-A and has had it several years," McMillan said. "When he got the job, I said, 'That's nice ... what made you get a job at Chick-fil-A?' He told me, 'I just felt like it was important. I needed to work on my communication skills.'
"He was mature enough to realize that and saw his opportunity. They have such an emphasis on customer service. I haven't come across many teenagers with that kind of mindset."
On the field, the 6-foot-1, 165-pound striker and reigning all-area player of the year has been virtually unstoppable as a senior.
He scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season Tuesday in a 3-1 win over Blackman in the Region 4-AAA semifinals, propelling the Wolverines to Wednesday's region finals at Rockvale, a 3-2 winner over Lebanon, and an automatic sectional berth.
Jordan Beslin has become vocal leader
McMillan said Beslin has come out of his shell over the past four years. Beslin admits he has a much different personality today than the player who cracked the Wolverines' starting lineup as a freshman.
"I feel like I'm the same person," Beslin said. "Just mentally, physically and emotionally I've become this better individual than I did when I first came, just a shy 14-year-old.
"Coming up, I was always the youngest on my team, so I was always looking up to my teammates. I look at the seniors who graduated previously, and coaches as well, who helped me develop into the person I am today. It's allowed me to strive and be a different person."
La Vergne junior Fernando Mendieta said Beslin is a "great teammate," and it's not just because of his powerful right leg and propensity for finding the back of the net.
"He always has his head held high," said Mendieta, who scored La Vergne's other goal Tuesday. "He has a great mentality. I enjoy sharing the field with him. He's always ready to go. He is shy sometimes, but when we're on the field, you always see him with a big smile. That's a good thing about him. He comes motivated all the time."
Beslin is approaching 100 goals for his career as the Wolverines attempt to reach the state tournament for the second consecutive season.
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"The key is my teammates," said Beslin, who hasn't committed to college yet but said he is talking to several schools. "They've been setting me up all season. They keep giving me the ball. I yell at them, although I know they get irritated sometimes."
His 91 career goals are by far the most in program history. So are his 31 goals this season, which also puts him among the best in TSSAA history.
"He’s progressed from a player that just relied on speed...he would just beat you to the ball and try to put it in," McMillan said. "He’s really worked on the technical areas of his game. he's become more of a refined soccer player instead of just a runner."
Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: TSSAA soccer: La Vergne star Jordan Beslin approaching 100 goals
