Contact: Ava Yurchison, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Oct. 3, 2016-When he was five or six years old, junior North Central College men's soccer player Jon Borzick recalls dribbling down the field. He was approaching an opponent and started to do a move, or so he thought; he was really just running over the ball without actually touching it. His tactic worked though and his defender ran in one direction which opened the door for Borzick to head towards the goal and score.
 
This is one of the first moments of playing that sticks with Borzick and one that he and his dad enjoy to laugh about.
 
The Lindenhurst, Ill. native has always had a strong connection to his family. He is one of set of twins in a family of five. Borzick had competed together on sports teams with his twin brother until he decided to come to college and since has maintained a close-knit relationship with each member.
 
He has especially remained close to his parents who over the years have inspired him to develop into the player that he is. "My mom and my dad have always pushed me to be the best that I can," said Borzick. "My dad has always said, 'A Borzick goes 110% every time.' They both are always there for everything. They have been to every game this season."
 
The ideals of a family have always been important to Borzick therefore, once the anthropology and classical civilization major came to North Central in the fall of 2014, he was quick to form a bond with his teammates.
 
Borzick has looked to his teammates as a source of friendship and entertainment. Over the years, himself and his teammates have grown into their own family who do basically everything together. "Whether it is in groups or with the whole team, pretty much everyone is hanging out with someone on the team at all times," smiled Borzick.  "I think that comes with coming into preseason so early... You are spending all your time with them and you really get 30 friends coming in which is one thing I was happy about playing a sport coming in"
 
These relationships that Borzick has created throughout his life and that he continues to create are the lasting kind. For that reason, when Borzick got a phone call one night during his sophomore year from his high school teammate, Ramon Marin, Borzick answered.
 
Marin was reaching out to Borzick in an effort to gain knowledge of the North Central soccer program and possibly transfer to once again play soccer with his friend.
 
Borzick and Marin had known one another since they were in fourth grade. Their elementary school had been split from a larger school to a smaller school and the two boys were placed into the smaller school together. Although, it was not until varsity soccer at Lakes High School that Borzick and Marin really started to hangout.
 
"We both played on varsity so we hung out a lot," explained Borzick. "It [his and Marin's relationship] has just grown over the years. So yeah, we're pretty close. He is one of my best friends."
 
After visiting North Central and meeting the members of the men's soccer team and coaching staff, Marin decided to leave Benedictine University and give playing soccer with Borzick another chance.
 
"Coming here and playing with me is something he has always wanted to do. It was an easy thing for him," Borzick expressed. "We've played together for six years now."
 
The duo continues to play soccer together as Cardinals and build an everlasting bond today.
 
As far as his own personal career at North Central, Borzick has been named a second-team all-conference team member. Further, a defining moment in his career thus far came during his sophomore season.
 
North Central College was playing at number five ranked North Park. Borzick was tasked with defending North Park offender Pedram Tahmi-Masoleh. Tahmi-Masoleh had a reputation to be difficult to defend going around the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). He was scoring a goal in every game prior to facing North Central and was one of the leading scorers in the nation for division III men's soccer.
 
"I held him, with the help of my other teammates too but I primarily had to guard him," illustrated Borzick. "We held him to no shots on goal and he missed one shot wide. That was a big moment for me individually and for the team. We beat them 1-0 and they were ranked."
 
When he is not playing soccer, Borzick can be found hanging with friends or creating new, intricate origami figures.
 
Borzick and the rest of the North Central men's soccer players head out to local rival Elmhurst College this Wednesday for a game under the lights.