Jony Mu帽oz puts pro soccer career on hold, makes history at Olathe West High School
OLATHE, Kan. (BVM) 鈥� Jony Mu帽oz could already be a Major League Soccer player for Sporting Kansas City if he wanted to be.
鈥淗e was 100% going to be a kid they signed to a contract as a 16-year-old,鈥� said Olathe West High School boys soccer head coach Matt Trumpp, who coached with Sporting Kansas City Academy for 12 years.
Mu帽oz, a former member of the U.S. Soccer U-16 national team, spent his freshman and sophomore years of high school playing club soccer for Sporting KC Academy. If he had stayed, he would鈥檝e been given an opportunity that a lot of teenagers would jump at 鈥� $50,000 to play professionally. But college would have gone out the window, and Mu帽oz would鈥檝e also lost the chance to play for Olathe West, which meant more to him than many could understand.
鈥淓verything was great there (at Sporting KC),鈥� Mu帽oz said. 鈥淚t was just honestly a God-led decision. It became very clear to me that I needed to leave and it was the best decision I鈥檝e made in my life up to now. 鈥� It was scary because I was a regular starter at Sporting, played for the national team when I was 15, all of these great things, and to leave it all was kind of a blind move, a shot in the dark.鈥�
The move paid off for Olathe West and Mu帽oz, who put together perhaps the most impressive two-year high school soccer career in Kansas history. As a senior, the Liberty University commit recorded 36 goals and 19 assists and led the Owls to a 20-1 record and the Class 6A state title, the school鈥檚 first-ever state championship in a team sport. He was also named MVP of the High School All-American game. Mu帽oz finished his Olathe West career with 53 goals and 28 assists.
For his accomplishments as a senior, Mu帽oz was not only named the Gatorade Kansas Boys Soccer Player of the Year, he became the first Kansas athlete to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year award in any sport since the program began in 1985. And it would be hard to argue anyone was more deserving of the award which recognizes exemplary off-the-field character and high academic achievement along with athletic excellence.
The 5-foot-7 forward was much more than just an outstanding soccer player for his high school. Mu帽oz, who maintained a 3.97 GPA, took part in a mission trip to Mexico to assist underprivileged youth last summer and led his soccer team鈥檚 food drive last year as well. He was also part of Olathe West鈥檚 OWLS student-leadership organization and won the Olathe Noon Optimist Club鈥檚 community leader award.
Not only is Jony Mu帽oz a top soccer prospect, but he has dedicated his time to underprivileged youth in Mexico and holds an A average in the classroom. And now Jony can add to this resume, that he is the 2019-20 National Boys Soccer
— Gatorade (@Gatorade)
鈥淗e鈥檚 a once-in-a-generation kid that I don鈥檛 know if we鈥檒l ever have again,鈥� Trumpp said.
And if not for a faith-led decision to step away from Sporting KC for the chance to just be a more normal student-athlete, both Mu帽oz and Olathe West would鈥檝e missed out on two special years.
鈥淗e legitimately wanted to go to youth groups on Wednesday nights and wanted to play his guitar in the band at church,鈥� said Trumpp, who also coached Mu帽oz at Sporting KC prior to taking the job at Olathe West in 2017. 鈥淗e grew up across the street from Olathe West, all of his friends were playing for me in high school. He didn鈥檛 feel left out, so to say, but he didn鈥檛 feel like what he was doing at Sporting was fulfilling what he was on this earth to do.鈥�
鈥淚 think I made the right decision,鈥� Mu帽oz said, 鈥渁nd down the path I鈥檓 going right now it鈥檚 looking good for the future.鈥�
The future will likely still include a professional career, but not before Mu帽oz takes his talents to the NCAA Division I college level. Mu帽oz was originally looking to stay closer to home for college, but then Liberty head coach Kelly Findley reached out and invited Mu帽oz to Lynchburg, Va. for a visit. Findley and Mu帽oz had already developed a relationship when both were at Sporting KC.
鈥淚t was a no-brainer,鈥� Mu帽oz said. 鈥淐oming to a faith-based school and the soccer program being led by Kelly who I knew very well was just key to me to know that I鈥檓 going to be in a quality program that鈥檚 building up right now. And I鈥檓 going to grow as a student and in my faith, which is most important.鈥�
Following his faith led Mu帽oz to historic high school achievements and a two-year experience that he wouldn鈥檛 trade. He knew the chance to turn pro would be there for him again when the time is right, and he鈥檒l continue to follow the path he chose to fulfill that dream.
鈥淢y goal is definitely to sign a contract,鈥� Mu帽oz said. 鈥淚 kind of took a step back a couple years ago when I could鈥檝e, but I鈥檓 super excited now. I know God鈥檚 plan for me is perfect and things happened the way they happened and now I鈥檓 here at Liberty and I鈥檓 really focused on the season…But when the opportunity to go pro comes, I will definitely take it.鈥�
460,000 players. 12,511 soccer programs. And is the most decorated high school athlete in the history of Kansas HS sports. Best part is that he puts himself second in all he does. Proud is an understatement.
— Olathe West Soccer (@MattTrumpp)
