« Men’s Soccer 2019

Skye Harter

School
University of Akron
Position
Midfield
Major
Accounting

Classroom

Skye Harter is a dedicated student who has balanced a challenging curriculum in accounting with the demands of playing college soccer at the highest level. He has worked diligently in his classwork, taking summer classes while in preseason training to accelerate graduation before attempting a professional soccer career. He has gone from being a walk-on student-athlete who had to work multiple landscaping jobs during the season to meet tuition to being a senior captain.

Character

Harter arrived as a walk-on for the Zips in 2015 and had to balance the demands of training/game schedule, along with his academic studies and working many hours landscaping in and out of the season in order to pay for his schooling. He persevered to become an integral member of the team the last three seasons and has become a senior captain in 2019. Harter has gone on to start 43 of the team-high 66 games in which he has appeared in during that span, and he has been a resource for the new members of the team, instructing them in the procedures for study tables, academic advising and tutoring. He also has been instrumental in introducing new members to campus, helping them with travel issues and adapting to the team culture.

Community

Harter has volunteered with multiple programs throughout his collegiate career at Akron, including inner-city Philadelphia-Kensington, the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, Haven of Rest, the Pen Pal Program with Helen Arnold School, and Cabaret Berry. He was the support for the first volunteer effort with the Haven of Rest and assisted the community leader in the organization of the event. He also has played a key role in welcoming Akron’s Team Impact player, Maverick, who has been with the program throughout his collegiate career. Harter has spent a lot of time with Maverick, from exchanging kind words at training and games, to going out of his way to have meals and attend soccer games in which Maverick is able to play.

Competition

A five-year member of the Akron soccer team, Harter has helped the Zips to reach the College Cup in each of the last two seasons, and he was a member of the squad that reached the College Cup in 2015. He is the epitome of the true soccer player and is both the leader and the doer. He has started 43 of the team-high 66 games in which he has appeared, owning a team-best 17 assists, while adding nine goals and 35 points on the strength of 50 shots, including 23 on frame. He earned first-team All-Mid-America Conference accolades in 2018.