Josiah Bethune ’23 Thriving as McMaster’s Latest Soccer Recruit
Class of 2023 graduate, Josiah Bethune, took his talents to McMaster University this past fall to continue his academic and soccer career.
“The players involved in the soccer programme here are extremely skilled and serious which was just what I was looking for to continue pursuing my soccer career,” says Bethune. “The training and strength lift sessions are well run by a fantastic coaching staff, which allows me to get better and gain more experience on and off the pitch.”
Bethune graduated from SMCS in June 2023 as an Ontario Scholar, finishing Grade 12 with an average above 80 per cent, and with a St. Thomas More Society award, for consistently maintaining his average above 80 per cent throughout his four years of high school.
“I am currently studying automotive and vehicle engineering,” he says. “It is a bachelor of technology programme, which means there is a business course you take every semester. The engineering course itself is very common with your math and sciences, but I am trying to pursue a career in the automotive industry in the future.”
He adds, “The programme that I chose was a very specific programme that wasn’t offered at many places. The distance from home was also very important to me, and if I ever needed to go back home, if I ever needed to return home, I could. The campus was a bonus as it is a really good size that allows you to walk anywhere you need to go and the facilities are nice. The facilities like the gym, classrooms, and some residences are very modern and well-maintained. Lastly, of course, was the soccer aspect, as the programme is one of the best in the nation, and the team consistently performs well every year.”
While the pandemic and some injuries prevented Bethune from playing on the school team for a couple of years, he was able to play for the Senior Blue Azzurri in his final year at SMCS.
“Going into my last year, I was not only a senior player, but a well-improved player,” says Bethune, who played soccer in Grade 9 at SMCS but was in the lower division. “Last year, we did extremely well as a team with a lot of talent displayed through great plays and excellent goals. Unfortunately, we came up short in the 2022 CISAA championship final, where I sustained a minor injury and was unable to play the whole game.”
Miko Romano, SMCS Sr. Soccer coach and teacher, says, “Josiah was a dedicated member of the senior team where he played an integral role as a leader in the midfield. His contributions helped the team qualify and show well at OFSAA.”
Growing up, Bethune played for SC Toronto and North York Academy, where he had the opportunity to improve his skills and take his game to the next level, thanks to his coaches and teammates.
At SMCS, Bethune was also a member of the Toastmasters Club; however, since much of his focus was on soccer, he also found himself participating in intramural soccer between seasons.
“Throughout my St. Mike’s soccer career, there were many great memories where I got to play with many great players.”
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