He's been to "the edge and back", literally, but nothing seems to stop Grady Renfrow from coming "back" to soccer, in whatever way he can. Renfrow was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in high school and as a freshman at Penn State he began a year long battle with leukemia. He was able to overcome both life-threatening illnesses and since graduating from Penn State he has been living the dream of being a professional soccer player. He has had a training stint with DC United, won the Puerto Rico Soccer League as a member of FC Leones, and represented the United States in the Futsal Grand Prix in 2011. Soccer Banter caught up with Renfrow this past weekend after his goal for Rochester Lancers forced overtime in an eventual 12-10 win over Syracuse in a Major Indoor Soccer League match.
Soccer Banter: How would you describe your first season playing with the Rochester Lancers of Major Indoor Soccer League?
Grady Renfrow: Indoor soccer is definitely fast and exciting! I'm finding that there are a lot of nuances to the indoor game that I have to adjust to. It's kind of like a mix between hockey, basketball, and soccer. Here in Rochester the team is in its first year also so it is great to be a part of something new, and the Rochester fans are definitely into soccer.
SB: The Lancers are currently in second place in the Eastern Division standings after defeating Syracuse in overtime this past weekend. Looking ahead towards your last eight games what do the Lancers need to do in order to be part of the Final Four playoff?
GR: Here in Rochester, the club is planning to be there in the end. So far throughout the season there is a sense of progression with this team, and in each game we feel like we are getting closer to a championship squad. It is important for us to continue in that forward movement and pick up as many points whether it’s a conference or non-conference match up.
Soccer Banter: How would you describe your first season playing with the Rochester Lancers of Major Indoor Soccer League?
Grady Renfrow: Indoor soccer is definitely fast and exciting! I'm finding that there are a lot of nuances to the indoor game that I have to adjust to. It's kind of like a mix between hockey, basketball, and soccer. Here in Rochester the team is in its first year also so it is great to be a part of something new, and the Rochester fans are definitely into soccer.
SB: The Lancers are currently in second place in the Eastern Division standings after defeating Syracuse in overtime this past weekend. Looking ahead towards your last eight games what do the Lancers need to do in order to be part of the Final Four playoff?
GR: Here in Rochester, the club is planning to be there in the end. So far throughout the season there is a sense of progression with this team, and in each game we feel like we are getting closer to a championship squad. It is important for us to continue in that forward movement and pick up as many points whether it’s a conference or non-conference match up.
SB: Who has been the best player you have played against this season in MISL and why?
GR: I have nothing but respect for every player on every team in the league, but I find that the players that are the hardest to play against are the ones with a lot of league experience. It is not so much a players speed or technical ability, but more like their decision making that makes them a good player. The best players know what to do in every scenario and know where to move to get into dangerous positions either scoring or defensively.
SB: Since you finished playing at Penn State in 2007, you have continued to play at a high level professionally, but in a variety ways: outdoor, indoor, and futsal. Describe the differences associated when playing soccer in each game?
GR: The non-outdoor versions of soccer are different mainly because of the confines of a smaller playing field. Indoor and futsal are much more about precision, tactics, and player movement in order to exploit the little space you do have. Outdoor players have the luxury of space and therefore more opportunity to express themselves because you can afford to take more touches. Also, you are less likely to be immediately closed down by a defender so the transition from indoor to outdoor is great because the field feels huge.
An interesting aspect about outdoor that I miss is the art of bending the ball. With indoor and futsal, passes generally need to be quick and to feet, where as outdoor there is room for long balls and bending through balls which are fun to play. Bending shots past the keep in outdoor is also a magnificent art that does not happen indoors.
GR: I have nothing but respect for every player on every team in the league, but I find that the players that are the hardest to play against are the ones with a lot of league experience. It is not so much a players speed or technical ability, but more like their decision making that makes them a good player. The best players know what to do in every scenario and know where to move to get into dangerous positions either scoring or defensively.
SB: Since you finished playing at Penn State in 2007, you have continued to play at a high level professionally, but in a variety ways: outdoor, indoor, and futsal. Describe the differences associated when playing soccer in each game?
GR: The non-outdoor versions of soccer are different mainly because of the confines of a smaller playing field. Indoor and futsal are much more about precision, tactics, and player movement in order to exploit the little space you do have. Outdoor players have the luxury of space and therefore more opportunity to express themselves because you can afford to take more touches. Also, you are less likely to be immediately closed down by a defender so the transition from indoor to outdoor is great because the field feels huge.
An interesting aspect about outdoor that I miss is the art of bending the ball. With indoor and futsal, passes generally need to be quick and to feet, where as outdoor there is room for long balls and bending through balls which are fun to play. Bending shots past the keep in outdoor is also a magnificent art that does not happen indoors.
SB: You have a very inspiring and unique story, first overcoming thyroid cancer in high school and then leukemia while at Penn State to continue playing soccer. Describe your ability to overcome both thyroid cancer and leukemia?
GR: The Thyroid dilemma turned out to be a much easier task than the Leukemia. I was out for about a month total for my total thyroidectomy and subsequent radioactive iodine treatment. Once the big scar on my neck healed I was ready to play soccer again. The radioactive treatment did not take a large toll on my body since it was a single dose.
I was able to compete my freshman year at Penn State and it was during the off-season training that I noticed something was not right. The leukemia had slowly crept up through all of our tough training and I could no longer push myself, and that is when I really knew something was wrong. After the five months in the hospital (which is another story all together) I had recovered enough to eventually head back to PSU. I did not play that year i returned but i definitely used that year to get back into playing shape. At first, my veins burned, my chest burned, my muscles felt like they were extremely weak but that all subsided eventually with baby steps. I first started out needing to build from a jogging pace until I could eventually sprint and change direction. Still, I was not ready to come back to practicing everyday (even though i was still involved with the team everyday) I am extremely thankful that I took the time do recover properly since I really did not have any set backs in terms of injuries to slow my come back. I later devoted myself to being the "fittest" on the team, meaning I would try to finish first in any physical challenge the training staff or coaching staff threw at us.
My immune system was deemed strong enough to travel to Brazil with the PSU team my first year back during preseason. I of course was not playing but I was still there and it felt really good to be back.
GR: The Thyroid dilemma turned out to be a much easier task than the Leukemia. I was out for about a month total for my total thyroidectomy and subsequent radioactive iodine treatment. Once the big scar on my neck healed I was ready to play soccer again. The radioactive treatment did not take a large toll on my body since it was a single dose.
I was able to compete my freshman year at Penn State and it was during the off-season training that I noticed something was not right. The leukemia had slowly crept up through all of our tough training and I could no longer push myself, and that is when I really knew something was wrong. After the five months in the hospital (which is another story all together) I had recovered enough to eventually head back to PSU. I did not play that year i returned but i definitely used that year to get back into playing shape. At first, my veins burned, my chest burned, my muscles felt like they were extremely weak but that all subsided eventually with baby steps. I first started out needing to build from a jogging pace until I could eventually sprint and change direction. Still, I was not ready to come back to practicing everyday (even though i was still involved with the team everyday) I am extremely thankful that I took the time do recover properly since I really did not have any set backs in terms of injuries to slow my come back. I later devoted myself to being the "fittest" on the team, meaning I would try to finish first in any physical challenge the training staff or coaching staff threw at us.
My immune system was deemed strong enough to travel to Brazil with the PSU team my first year back during preseason. I of course was not playing but I was still there and it felt really good to be back.
SB: Looking back some 7 years on, how did those battles help shape your current life today?
GR: That is a great question! I kind of feel like I have been to "the edge" and back. Now with that experience behind me I am able to look at new experiences or even daily experiences with a better attitude. There is a certain perspective that I can apply to any kind of situation I am up against like the everyday stresses of playing professional soccer, for example. It is still a game and no matter how things are going, whether it coming off a string of losses, or tension at practice, or the pressure of performing in games, I can always look back on my experience and say "there are more important things".
SB: You have been fortunate to continue to play the beautiful game since graduating Penn Sate, what has been your most memorable moment during the past 4 years?
GR: I think representing the US with the futsal team has to be one of my most memorable moments. It’s a feather in my cap to say that I have had the opportunity to compete at the highest level and wear the US badge.
SB: Following the Lancers season, what is next for you with soccer?
GR: I told myself while in the hospital that I would devote myself to riding this soccer thing as far as it would take me, and I would be thankful for wherever it decided to drop me off. Soccer had a huge roll in helping me come back from my sickness so I feel like I owe myself the satisfaction of playing as long as I can. As of now there is no immediate plan except for finishing this MISL season as well as i can.
GR: That is a great question! I kind of feel like I have been to "the edge" and back. Now with that experience behind me I am able to look at new experiences or even daily experiences with a better attitude. There is a certain perspective that I can apply to any kind of situation I am up against like the everyday stresses of playing professional soccer, for example. It is still a game and no matter how things are going, whether it coming off a string of losses, or tension at practice, or the pressure of performing in games, I can always look back on my experience and say "there are more important things".
SB: You have been fortunate to continue to play the beautiful game since graduating Penn Sate, what has been your most memorable moment during the past 4 years?
GR: I think representing the US with the futsal team has to be one of my most memorable moments. It’s a feather in my cap to say that I have had the opportunity to compete at the highest level and wear the US badge.
SB: Following the Lancers season, what is next for you with soccer?
GR: I told myself while in the hospital that I would devote myself to riding this soccer thing as far as it would take me, and I would be thankful for wherever it decided to drop me off. Soccer had a huge roll in helping me come back from my sickness so I feel like I owe myself the satisfaction of playing as long as I can. As of now there is no immediate plan except for finishing this MISL season as well as i can.
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