Hurricane product to key Cougars’ counterattack

By Dan Stillwell
Register-Herald Sports Writer

John Gdula is a defender with an attacker’s heart.

A thorn in the side of Hurricane High School’s soccer opponents the past four years, he’ll bring skill and craftiness to Beckley as the latest recruit of Mountain State University’s fledgling team.

“I like making quick, on-the-fly decisions under pressure,” Gdula said, “And coming out with a quick counterattack.”

His ability to win the ball and race out on the attack makes him a natural for MSU coach John Birkelbach’s aggressive defense.

“Our kids have free rein to come up, as long as we fill in the spots,” Birkelbach said. “ John will be getting in the attack a lot. It depends on what we’re playing.”

Gdula will also be an asset on set pieces, utilizing his good heading skills on corner kicks and free kicks.

“(At Hurricane) they had me up in the attack because they say I have tenacity in the air,” he said. “I didn’t (score) too many times, but I made a difference. It would draw an additional defender out.”

Birkelbach immediately liked Gdula after bringing him down for a tryout at his former coaching post, Bluefield College, last November.

“John made an immediate impact on the field at left fullback,” Birkelbach said. “He’s got a great touch on the ball, great vision and knows his role.”

A four-year player at Hurricane, Gdula earned honorable mention all-state recognition as a senior. He was also on the all-Mountain State Athletic Conference and all-Cardinal Conference teams.

He’ll never forget his first varsity game.

“As a freshman I was called upon to go into a tight 1-1 game against Charleston Catholic and I hadn’t gotten much playing time,” he said. “I was a little shaky at first, but as soon as I got a few good touches we were rolling and having a good time.”

Birkelbach foresees the same quick adjustment for him this fall.

“John is strong and he’s got the skills,” he said. “It’s just going to be (a matter of) him stepping into the college game and adapting to it like he did when he first stepped on the pitch.

“I figure once he gets a couple of games under his belt he’ll be a great player.

“He’s a leader — the kind of player you want to build your program on.”

Birkelbach, who won a national championship at Bluefield College last year before becoming MSU’s first-ever soccer coach, said recruiting is going very well.

“(Gdula) is my eighth signing; I expect to have 10 by the end of the summer,” he said. “I’ll definitely have a roster of 20 players.”