Field High School senior Garit Greene is a standout on both the boys soccer and football teams for the Falcons.
Tom Nader/Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Ever find yourself inside the whirlwind of a week?

The ones that feel like a blur because one day’s busy schedule blends into the next day’s hectic series of events.

And someone, the following day is even busier than those two days were.

Welcome to the world of Garit Greene.

The Field High School senior loves competing so much that he has found a way to fill practically every waking hour of his day with them.

And finding plenty of success to celebrate along the way.

Greene is a four-year starter and team captain on the Falcons’ unbeaten boys soccer team, while also being a starting wide receiver on Field’s football team.

On the pitch, Greene is as talented as they come. And versatile, too, with the ability to anchor down the back line or create opportunities in the attack as a midfielder. He was First Team All-Metro Athletic Conference last season.

On the gridiron, the 6-foot, 185-pound speedster runs clean routes, has soft hands and currently leads Portage County in both receptions and receiving yards on a run-heavy team.

On more than one occasion, Greene has left longtime football head coach Matt Furino speechless.

And even opposing coaches are taking notice.

“How he does both sports at the same time, both being so physically demanding, and how he does them both so incredibly well … I will never know,” said Southeast football coach Patrick Youel, following the Falcons’ 28-6 victory over his Pirates on Aug. 26.

On that particular week, Greene’s schedule was as demanding as anyone will experience in Portage County regardless of season or sport.

On Monday, he had a soccer game and a football practice.

Tuesday, was the same.

Wednesday was a back-to-back practice, with soccer first and then football.

Field’s Garit Greene was named First Team All-Metro Conference last season for Field’s soccer team and is currently leading Portage County in both receptions and receiving yards in football.
Tom Nader/Portage Sports

Thursday, was a soccer game and football practice.

Friday night was the Falcons’ football victory over Southeast.

Saturday, morning no less, just hours removed from playing both offense and defense in the football game, was a soccer game.

Five games in six days — and all five games were victories for Greene and his Falcons.

“To me, that was the best part of the whole thing, was for my teams to get the wins in all of those games,” Greene said.

Oh, and by the way, he was studying and completing homework for CCP classes that week, too, in addition to preparing for the start of his senior year the following week.

“What a wonderful kid he is,” said Furino of his 3.8 GPA standout, who did not start his football career until last season as a junior. “He is just a special individual. To be an All-Star in two sports the way he does it … just special. What else can I say. He is just simply a special person, and I feel blessed to coach him.”

Being forever active has always been part of Greene’s life. He had always played soccer, basketball and baseball. When he stopped playing basketball after his sophomore season to focus on lifting, it also made him wonder if he would regret not at least trying football.

“It was something that I felt like I wanted to try. It was something I didn’t want to think about later on and wish I would have done it,” said Greene, whose twin Gavin is also a standout for the Falcons’ soccer team and is rapidly approaching the school’s all-time assists record. “Of course, I didn’t want to give up soccer to do it, though, so my schedule is a lot, but I am having a blast. Both coaches and both teams have been so supportive, and I appreciate the chance to do both.

“I look at the opportunity to play both sports as a privilege,” Greene added. “I am very thankful.”

Field boys soccer head coach Juan Barreto said that senior Garit Greene was practically a finished product by the time he arrived to the program as a freshman.
Tom Nader/Portage Sports

The start of summer practices were arguably tougher than the actual demands of the season. When the fall season opened, Greene would go to football practice every morning from 7 a.m. until as late as 1 p.m. and then have soccer practice every night from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“That kind of commitment is not for everyone, but I enjoyed it,” Greene said.

Then again, there are not many like Greene.

Field boys soccer head coach Juan Barreto recognized it when Greene arrived as a freshman.

“He is a pleasure to coach. He is one of the best kids I have ever coached,” the fifth-year Falcons coach said. He does his job, does it very well and he never complains. He came in as a freshman and was practically a finished product already. He had all the tools already, but then he also put in the work in the weight room, which took him to another level.

“He has an above-average soccer IQ, he has incredibly agility, you can depend on him. He is a player that lock a game down and you can’t say that about many players during your coaching career, but Garit is definitely one of them,” Barreto said.

A one-of-one that Field may never see duplicated again.