WORTHINGTON — Cody Honius’ impact on the Worthington community was evident last summer as he manned the goal for many of the Worthington Community Football Club’s (WCFC) home games.
As a physical education teacher at Worthington Middle School and head coach of the Worthington High School junior football team, many of his students and players would come to watch his games and often yell his name.
A season-ending fracture of his left ankle last summer, followed by complications from tendonitis, caused him to miss most of this season, but Honius remained committed to contributing to the team in any way he could.
“I think experience is big, we know what to expect,” Honius said. “If we lose right off the bat, we just try to stay positive and encourage (the team).”
Honius was active throughout elementary school and high school at WHS, playing on the varsity soccer, hockey and tennis teams, but this experience didn't come as early as most soccer players.
Honius played in a YMCA soccer league as a child, but primarily played football until his freshman year of high school when he joined the U15 summer traveling soccer league.
Building that relationship will help build confidence. The players on the field must trust that their goalkeeper will do everything in their power to prevent as many shots as possible.
Jordan Balster, WCFC Goalkeeping Coach
Initially, Honius was a forward on the team. Then, in his junior year, the team didn't have a goalkeeper, so Honius, being the tallest player on the team, was named to the new position. He's played that position ever since and loved it.
“(Goalkeeper) is like the backbone of the team because he can see the whole field,” Honeas said. “Being goalkeeper has given me more responsibility, so I'm very happy about that.”
It's not a responsibility Honeas takes lightly. Because goalkeepers are positioned at the back of the field, they are responsible for communicating defensive moves to their teammates. That communication can only happen with trust and confidence, said Jordan Balster, WCFC goalkeeping coach and head soccer coach at Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
“When you can build those relationships, it builds confidence,” Valster said. “The players on the field have to trust that the goalie is going to do everything in their power to try to block any shots they can, and the goalie has to trust that the players on the field are going to score goals.”
In a game with low scoring like soccer, a goalkeeper's tenacity is also important. Half of WCFC's matches this season have been decided by one goal, meaning one make or miss save can completely turn the outcome around. Every shot brings pressure, but Honeas knows that once a goal is scored, it's time to move on to the next one.
With WCFC leading 2-0 against Villa FC on June 5, Honius tried to get a touch on the ball but tripped an opponent. After conceding the ensuing penalty kick, Honius' next save became even more important, knowing that he was one goal away from tying the score. He recovered from his early mistake to protect his team's lead and win the game 2-1.
“There are times when you can clearly see Cody getting angry at himself for making a mistake he shouldn't have made,” Balster said, “but he's a guy that bounces back well from those situations.”
After graduating from WHS in 2014, Honius attended Riverland Community College in Austin for one semester, then transferred to Minnesota West Community & Technical College in Worthington for a two-year degree before moving on to earn a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health education at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he participated in intramural soccer.
When Honius returned to Worthington as a teacher, he continued to stay busy: in the summer before joining Los Toros, Honius played in the Worthington boys soccer league, and in the winter he played in indoor leagues in both Worthington and Sioux Falls.
A typical week for Honius during the winter months involves teaching and coaching hockey Monday through Friday, playing in an indoor soccer league in Sioux Falls on Saturday, the Worthington indoor soccer league on Sunday, and playing in a hockey league in Sioux Falls on Sunday night.
“I want to play as long as I can play,” Honius said.
Worthington Community Football Club launched as an U17 and U19 club team in the summer of 2022. Honius was appointed coach of the U19 team. The following year, the team achieved semi-professional status, allowing players of all ages to compete in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) in the Midwest West Conference.
It means more to me to play because I'm representing my town. It's about representing the community, not just myself.
WCFC goalkeeper Cody Honius
Although the team had a tough start in their first season, they finished strong, finishing last year with a final record of 5 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw.
“We started off a little bit slow last year, but once we got a few games under our belts and started to adjust to league play we finished really well,” Honius said.
This season, the team began recruiting more players from across the Midwest, and as the team becomes more diverse in order to stay competitive, Balster stressed the importance of retaining local talent to engage with the Worthington community.
“Being a community teacher means you get exposure to more people through your work with kids in the community,” Balster said. “Having someone like that on your team makes the connection between the community and your team that much stronger.”
Despite finishing the season with a 5-5 record, the team had made great strides. The Toros were in the running for a playoff spot down to their final game, where a win would have secured them a place in the conference playoffs. However, the team lost 5-0 to 1826 Academy, a game without Honeas.
Honeas plans to play in various adult soccer leagues to further improve his skills, especially after returning from an ankle injury. He hopes next season will be the one to lead Los Toros to the playoffs for the first time.
For him, winning and the love of football aren't the only reasons he continues to play. As a physical education teacher, Honeas is an integral part of the community and loves being able to represent it during matches.
Balster said Honius' love for the game is still evident, but it's matched up well with his love for his hometown.
“It means more to me to play because I'm representing my town. It's representing the community and it's more than just representing myself,” Honius said, “So that gives me the drive to keep going and keep working hard.”