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Sports

St John the Baptist Graduate Has Bright Future Ahead

Thomas Adair is having success on and off the soccer field

Thomas Adair, a member of the St. John the Baptist Class of 2007, has a lot to think about entering his final year of his college career. A biology major at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J., Adair maintains a 3.8 grade point average while playing midfield for the MU Hawks.

Adair was a member of St. John the Baptist Cougars soccer team. During his senior season in 2007, the Cougars were regular season champions and ranked 11th in the country for high school soccer. In the Catholic High School Athletic Assocation (CHSAA) championship game against Chaminade, Adair netted his first career playoff goal in a double overtime loss. After winning his starting position late in the season, Adair would receive an award for the most improved player that year.

He received his diploma from St. John the Baptist  in West Islip, graduating with cum laude honors while being a member of the Liturgy Committee and French Honor Society.

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"SJB gave me a good foundation to play [soccer] at the next level," said Adair.

He would attend the College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y. in the fall where he began his undergraduate studies. Adair became a walk-on starter for the Golden Knights NCAA Division II team and scored two goals his freshman year.

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By the end of his sophomore season as a student-athlete, Adair was able to maintain a 3.75 GPA and started every game for the Golden Knights.

"Playing at St. Rose was the stepping stone to help me get to the next level," Adair said. "With the right mind set and dedication, you can achieve anything you put your mind to."

Adair's mindset was fixed on playing Division I soccer and his dream would come true. when he transferred to Monmouth University and became the only player  ever to successfully walk-on to the MU soccer team. He also  bagged a 3.94 GPA as a biology major.

In the fall of 2009, the Hawks were unbeaten in 14 consecutive matches and would eventually win the Northeast Conference regular season and advance to the NCAA College Cup Tournament.  The Hawks claimed the first NCAA Tournament win in program history in their opening round game against the University of Connecticut. Adair was also named to the Northeast-10 Conference 2009 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

"Being a Division I student-athlete and biology major put a lot of stress and pressure on me to succeed," Adair said. "It taught me time management and responsibility."

With a 3.8 cumulative GPA, Adair is now training with the Long Island Rough Riders this summer. Adair is one of seven candidates who have been asked to attend the Invitational Tryout this summer. Former West Islip soccer phenom and All-American Ben Arikian has been through the same scenario. Arikian participated in a league match for Rough Riders in the USL (United Soccer Leagues), which Adair hopes to do as well.

With the support from his parents John and Theresa Adair, the former SJB midfielder hopes to have a breakout senior season as a member of the MU Hawks soccer team in the fall. While he continues to train for the Rough Riders, Adair is preparing to take the MCAT exam this summer and receive admittance into a prominent medical school after his undergraduate career is complete.

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