NEWTON – We all have to overcome obstacles at some time or another in our lives. It is just the nature of the beast. Nevertheless, some individuals have to deal with much more than the average child growing up.
For Fred T. Foard High School graduate and varsity boys’ soccer athlete Andrei Tamas, he had to deal with much more indeed during his journey through life.
Sure he was a Northwestern Foothills 2A All-Conference player for the Tigers during his senior season in 2019, but he had to literally fight to get to this moment.
When Tamas was 11-years-old, his focus was far from sports as he faced a larger battle: cancer.
The disease left him with some setbacks, including the loss of a kidney, but Tamas continues to persevere and never surrender. As per doctor’s orders, he was told once he completed chemotherapy that he would need to either do physical therapy or play a sport in order to keep his body healthy and strong, so he chose to play the sport he was surrounded by his whole life.
“My older brothers played soccer for the Rec leagues, and I always enjoyed watching them play, but I didn’t start playing until I was in middle school,” said Tamas. “I really enjoy playing soccer because it helps me meet many different types of people who also enjoy playing soccer…The only main setback I’ve had is the fact that I now only have one kidney and so I have to drink more (fluids) and be careful in sports, so I don’t get too dehydrated or hurt my kidney.”
Tamas recently signed his national letter of intent to play for Lenoir-Rhyne University on July 30, continuing the sport he loves at the next level.
He said that his main goal once he’s able to put on a Bears’ uniform is to better himself as a player as he makes that transition from the high school level to the collegiate level.
“I am so happy for Andrei and his recent signing with Lenoir-Rhyne to play soccer,” said his former Tigers’ head coach Scott Goforth. “Andrei has been a model of what we want for a Foard soccer player. It’s funny, Andrei got his first varsity start as a sophomore due to a senior player not having his shin guards on right before the match started. As a staff, we were trying to make a point to the senior for his lack of preparation, however, Andrei was trying to make his own point….that he was up for the task.
“His performance impressed us as a coaching staff and ended up playing the entire first half and most of the second half. By his Junior year and on to his Senior year, the only way Andrei came off the field was if the referee made him leave with an injury and even with an injury he would contest and want to stay on the field. Andrei’s attitude and mentality of giving everything you’ve got was infectious to his teammates. He makes players around him better, not just as players but as people. Andrei has represented Foard to the highest of standards as a student and as a soccer player, and he will do the same for LRU.”
As far as playing for Fred T. Foard, though, Tamas said the thing he will miss the most is helping lead the team through each game and being able to just play with those guys.
During his senior campaign in 2019, he scored four goals and his team made it to the second round of the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs where it lost to in-town rival Newton-Conover in extras on Nov. 9. The Tigers finished its season at 16-5-5 overall and 10-3-1 in the conference (second behind Hibriten).
“My favorite moment about playing soccer at Foard is when we had our home game against West Caldwell and the field was pretty wet and everyone had trouble playing soccer on the field,” he said. “There were many funny, enjoyable moments in the game that made the whole team laugh and created many memories for the future.”
In terms of the future, Tamas’ younger sister Bianca will be the one to continue the family legacy as she enters her senior season playing for the Lady Tigers’ varsity soccer program in 2021.
(Updated at 2:29 p.m. on August 10, 2020, with Fred T. Foard head boys’ soccer coach Scott Goforth’s quotes)
