Beattie’s return is a boost for West Geauga

As he was asked to contemplate the miles logged the last couple years on his soccer journey, Dave Beattie turned to West Geauga teammate Mo Aidja on Aug. 25 and laughed.

The Wolverines had just finished off a 4-1 nonconference win over South on Beattie’s home pitch.

Considering much of the last two years has been spent driving to Columbus refining his craft, the turf of Howell Field is a bit easier traveling.

“Yeah, that was pretty rough, being on the road five hours and back,” Beattie said. “I could only do it for about a year before I was just too tired of it.”

This swan song year will be spent playing a pivotal role in a Wolverines side that can certainly use his services.

West G is 3-1 after the win over the Rebels, and another win Aug. 28 over Perry. After graduating longtime program staples Xavier Zup in central midfield, a 2017 first-team News-Herald all-star, and talented striker Jack Dorsky from a 9-5-4 side, the Wolverines have a different complexion now.

Beattie showed against South how much of a match influencer he can be. The senior operated as a holding midfielder in front of his back four, but with the creative license to carry possession forward and orchestrate the attack with his service.

“Yeah, I enjoy playing that role,” Beattie said, “getting the ball, being able to help the defense out, being able to drive forward and find our attackers.”

Beattie hasn’t played at West G since his freshman year, when he contributed three goals and six assists in 2015 as the Wolverines went 7-8-3.

“I played for an academy 2 ½ hours away in Columbus,” Beattie said. “This year, for my final senior year, I really wanted to focus on high school and try to do something with the team there, work on the leadership side of things.”

The physical side of

things also has improved for Beattie, who has clearly hit a growth spurt since he was a ninth-grader. As a senior, he’s much taller and more assertive to combine with his technical skill.

“My size and power on the ball,” Beattie said of his biggest technical stride from then to now. “I’m decently bigger and stronger. I’m able to drive more instead of having to pass it around. So that’s helpful.”

As is having a holding mid who can be a match influencer, which is a welcome sight for West G this fall.

“It’s very important,” Aidja said. “He’s really good

at defense and with the counterattack. And he distributes very well, forward to me. It just puts together the team very well.”

A team, Beattie hopes, that can be a threat in the postseason as he closes his soccer career at the high school level.

And he can play that soccer a lot closer to home.

“I feel like we’ve got a really good team this season and hopefully make it far in the playoffs,” Beattie said. “I’m proud of it.

“(The Division II postseason mix is) a lot different from my freshman year. I really like how it’s looking for West G this year.”

Beattie