Columbus North’s Thomas De La Cruz looks to kick the ball against Southport at the BCSC Soccer Complex, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.
Thomas “Tito” De La Cruz left his mark on Columbus soccer.
De La Cruz, who would have been a senior at Columbus North this year, died from an automobile accident in the early morning hours of July 28. He was 17.
“Thomas was a constant in our program for the last six years,” said Ty Smith, director of coaching for the Columbus Express Soccer Club. “He was always involved with Express in some capacity. Thomas was always there in training, games, practicing and playing. He even reffed some of our futsal games. Thomas had a certain brand of energy and enthusiasm. People gravitated toward him because of the joy he radiated. He is going to leave a huge void in our lives, but he is also going to leave a lasting legacy.”
The Bull Dogs began their first official practices this week in what would have been De La Cruz’s final season with his team.
“Thomas has left a lasting imprint on the soccer community in Columbus,” North coach Andy Glover said. “It’s very clear the depth and strength of the relationships forged on the pitch in our community. Thomas was an exceptional teammate, and he was loved by both players and coaches alike. All who have had the pleasure of working with Tito will remember his infectious enthusiasm and passion for the game, his friends and family.”
Thomas De La Cruz
De La Cruz was one of the most versatile players on the North team the past couple years. He was instrumental in giving the Bull Dogs their best run in soccer since winning a state title in 2012. He was a starting defender and scored the go-ahead goal in the team’s semistate win against Cathedral in 2022 to send North to the state championship game. He also helped the Bull Dogs to a regional title last year as their defensive midfielder.
“I was very fortunate to oversee Thomas’s arch of improvement over the years. His work ethic and his dedication to bettering himself was distinct. He was always at the fields,” Smith said. “We are going to miss seeing him and coaching him. He was funny. He was competitive. He was a ball of energy. He was a versatile player that was able to impact the game on all sides of the ball.”
North senior teammate Sam Brown has known De La Cruz since seventh grade at Northside Middle School, and they have been club teammates since the eighth grade.
Brown and De La Cruz played on the North JV team as freshmen until working their way on the varsity roster the past two seasons.
“If something needed to be done, he’d always be the first one to do it and would lead others with him. He was really eager to do the dirty work, and that translated with the rest of us. He was just a good role model on the field for us,” Brown said. “He brought a light into any dark situation. He could liven up a room no matter the situation. He always brought humor and joy no matter what we were doing, and that translated onto the field, too, no matter what circumstances we were facing. He was always the first one to lead the way and get back to where we wanted to be.”
The team is planning to honor De La Cruz by wearing warmup shirts, black armbands during games and also by creating a memorial plaque. His senior banner will be hung on the fence with the other seniors, as well.
“I think for me personally he’s been one of those guys that when you play with him, it’s just like a joy,” said Leo Iorio, a junior and Bull Dog teammate. “He makes it fun. He plays with great energy. He laughs, makes jokes, and even during the season in games in tough situations, he can light it up. He can make everyone on the team feel better. It was really a joy playing with him.”
The Bull Dogs will begin the season with a home match Aug. 17 against Noblesville at the BCSC Soccer Complex. While the team will miss having De La Cruz on the pitch, they’ll make sure to honor and play this season in his memory.
“He’s been with me the whole high school career,” Brown said. “I think the team has rallied around the fact that he would want us to work harder than ever, even more successful than we’ve had in the past. I think the team’s mental state right now is, we’re going to remember him by doing what he would want us to do, and that’s to win state.”
