Ethan Zohn ñ Soccer “Survivor”
From mayouthsoccer.org
By Brian Lowe
Editor
Ethan Zohn and his soccer mates were, in his own words, “a bunch of scrubs” when they would step onto the field for youth soccer games in Lexington. Dressed in non-matching uniforms and looking as though they did not belong, the group of youngsters would shock all present by handily defeating teams that were considerably more organized.
Zohn, a life-long goalkeeper, learned to survive on the youth soccer field and eventually reached the professional ranks in the United States and in other countries.
But the site of his truest test of survival ó one which he conquered with the same mentality he used to defeat youth soccer squads in Lexington ó was the Shaba National Reserve in Kenya, the location of CBS’ “Survivor Africa.” Zohn, 28, outlasted the 15 other contestants to become the sole survivor of the show, the finale of which aired on January 10th.
The Bay Stater caught up with Zohn at the U.S. Youth Soccer adidas Workshop and Coaches Convention in Atlanta in February. He said that he looks forward to working with kids in soccer, specifically in the inner city.
“Soccer is what helped me survive through my life so I want to give other kids the opportunity,” Zohn said. “It opened so many doors for me. I’m trying to find a platform so I can give that to kids.”
Zohn followed the soccer path of his two older brothers by signing up to play for Lexington Youth Soccer. He had a late start discovering a high level of competitive soccer. While other kids his age were performing in state competitions, he was content playing town soccer, and he says he only has good memories of those days. Eventually, he competed in the Bay State Games, for Massachusetts ODP and for Lexington High School as his soccer career took off.
After attending Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and graduating in 1996, he returned to the Bay State to suit up for the Cape Cod Crusaders. He also had stints with a club team in Zimbabwe and for the Hawaii Tsunami. In addition, he played in the World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 1997.
After a term as an assistant men’s and women’s soccer coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Zohn moved to New York City about a year ago. When a seemingly solid job opportunity fell through, he put his mind to work.
“I watched the other episodes of ‘Survivor’ and I thought, ‘I can do that. It’s not that hard,’” he said.
So along with about 60,000 other folks, Zohn produced a video last April to submit to the network. He made the cut each time that five-figure number was narrowed down, with the final 48 contestants being put through interviews and tests in Los Angeles. Finally, the field was whittled down to 18 and Zohn was in that group. Little did he think that, when he put together the initial videotape, he would be the last one standing ó and, in the process, win one million dollars.
“Every day when you’re out there, you’re thinking, how am I doing this?” Zohn said. “I wanted to be crowned champion. The competitive soccer nature in me came through. I wanted to hold up the trophy like you do in a soccer game. That’s what I turned to when I wanted to go home.”
Even though the show is over, he has rarely seen his New York City home in recent weeks. The trip to Georgia was just one of many appearances Zohn has made as a result of his “Survivor” fame, but it was one of the most meaningful.
“Kids are looking up to me,” he said. Rarely was he seen around the U.S. Youth Soccer conference without a crowd around him ó of kids and adults alike.
Zohn said he is eager to contribute to the world of youth soccer. “I’m going around, trying to create a niche for myself. I want to find the best place for me.”
Zohn and Mass Youth Soccer Development Coach Brett Jacobs have played together with the Crusaders. They have maintained a friendship to the point that Zohn will be in Jacobs’ wedding this summer.
“Ethan kind of represents the grassroots of pro soccer,” said Jacobs. “He has given a lot back to the game in a lot of different ways. He’s stayed true to himself and he represents a lot of what Mass Youth Soccer is all about. He is a very dedicated professional.”
Indeed, he intends to pass along what he has gained through the sport of soccer.
“You learn life tools in soccer,” Zohn said. “Here you are, maybe 12 years old, thrown in with 20 other kids you don’t know. You learn to make friends and work as a team. Soccer is a community and it’s how you can build life skills.”
For Ethan Zohn, it was a way to learn how to survive, in more ways than one.