How do you define Tobi Olopade?
Is he Penn soccer's high-impact freshman walk-on, or is he the "fantastic track athlete" that track coach Charlie Powell calls him?
Olopade wants to be both. He was recruited by Penn to run on the track, but during his senior year of high school, he "realized [he's] been playing soccer [his] whole life and to not be playing anymore would be pretty disappointing." So he decided to give soccer tryouts a go.
Olopade was exposed to soccer at a very young age; his Nigerian parents introduced him to their homeland's rich tradition in the sport.
Not wanting to give up the sport he always loved, Olopade walked on to the soccer team this year. Now, going into the sixth game of the season, he is "a spark off the bench for us," according to coach Rudy Fuller. Olopade was the first substitute off the bench in Penn's game against Hartwick last Friday.
Fuller loves his tough work ethic and "tremendous athletic ability." And the entire team has taken a liking to him.
"I think he's an easy kid to like," Fuller said. "He's fit in with our team off the field really well."
Although Olopade's accomplishments freshman year as a dual-sport, walk-on athlete are already impressive, he wants to have a greater impact on the soccer team in the coming years.
"I hope that as I get older, I can mature as a player," Olopade said.
Joining the soccer team, however, means that Olopade will be missing fall track practice. Soccer, which is during the fall, currently trumps track, which is a winter and spring sport.
Powell does not see any conflict with the current arrangement, noting that while the training Olopade will get on the soccer field is different than the track practice regimen, athletic ability will help him make up for his missed time.
"He's done multiple sports all his life," Powell said. "If you have . the time management skills and the athletic skills, I think that's great."
Additionally, Olopade wants to become a leader on the soccer team in the future. Fuller thinks that he can have an even bigger contribution to the Quakers, which is no small thing on a team with 24 players - 23 of which don't run track.
"Certainly I think he has higher aspirations than just being a player off the bench for us in certain situations. . I think he has a bright future ahead of him," Fuller said.
Powell had another concern, albeit a facetious one. Olopade needs to "keep himself healthy through all these seasons," the coach deadpanned.
So there you have it: Tobi Olopade - walk-on and recruit, in soccer and track.
By the way, he's got a pretty nice arc on his three-pointer, too.
