Preceded at Chesterton by three soccer-playing siblings, Ryan O’Dell emerged as the catalyst for the Trojans
Chesterton senior Ryan O’Dell laughed when asked the now-seemingly obligatory question about the best player among the family’s siblings.
“We all played center mid, but we all have different playing styles,” O’Dell said. “Since I won state twice, I guess you can say I was the best. But they were good as well.”
O’Dell, the 2021 Post-Tribune Boys Soccer Player of the Year, followed in the footsteps of 2015 graduate Jared, 2017 graduate Derek and 2019 graduate
Grace, who all played for Chesterton. Ryan O’Dell won Class 3A state titles with Chesterton in both 2018 and 2020.
And although this season ended with the Trojans’ loss to eventual state champion Noblesville at the Kokomo Semistate, where O’Dell drew a red card, there’s no denying his accomplishments. His production included 18 goals and 15 assists.
“Throughout the whole season, he is what puts our team in motion as far as how we attacked,” Chesterton coach Lucas Sabedra said. “Everything goes through him on the offensive side. He has such creative vision, and he’s
so dangerous on the dribble. He’s so cheeky, and he’s so explosive since he’s grown.”
Indeed, O’Dell’s development has been remarkable. He made an immediate impact as a 5-foot-1, 105-pound freshman, even starting in the 2018 state championship game.
He missed most of his sophomore season because of heel problems associated with growing pains.
“Once I started playing and stopped, I couldn’t go back on the field,” O’Dell recalled. “Sometimes I couldn’t play at all because my heels hurt so bad. We started having me play in only the second half, so I could get most of my time in the second half and not have to worry about halftime.”
O’Dell returned with a vengeance — at 5-8 and 140 pounds — as a junior. He had 13 goals and 14 assists.
He’s now 5-10 and 150 pounds.
“I played a bit faster, and I felt more confident on the field,” O’Dell said. “That helped a lot. I had a pretty good season. I always try each year to score more goals and get more assists than the previous year, and I did better than last year.”
Sabedra agreed O’Dell elevated his game even higher as a senior.
“He’s always had the technique and skill,” Sabedra said. “He’s one of the more physical midfielders in the Region, which is what kind of set him apart.
“He’s lefty, but he’s just as strong with his right foot — he can bury a shot with his right too. I saw him do things throughout the high school season that I’ve never seen at the high school level as far as his right foot and volleying the ball out of the air. It takes talent and confidence to try to pull that stuff off.”
O’Dell, who plans to study business in college, has the aspiration and ability to extend his playing career. He is in the process of sorting out his options.
He reflected on the end of his career at Chesterton.
“It was a really fun season,” O’Dell said. “We had a really good group, and it was a pretty successful season.
“It definitely wasn’t the way we wanted to go out. Noblesville was a good team. They showed up, and we didn’t show up ready. But it was a good season overall.”