Sylvia takes next step in career signing with Messiah

They say behind every great man is a great woman.

In the case of the Wheelersburg Pirates' outstanding senior soccer player Nick Sylvia, behind him was his brother Nathan.

Practicing with his brother and watching him achieve success was part of the motivation that made him a better player. And that work and motivation is what led to Sylvia signing to play for Messiah College, one of the top Division 3 programs in the country.

"When we came into high school, my brother had made it to the state tournament and the one thing I wanted to do in my four years was to make it to state so he couldn't hold it over my head," said Sylvia.

That competitive drive was in both brothers and practicing together helped both of them.

"There were hundreds and hundreds of hours I spent in my basement with an inflated ball and a goal going against my brother than I realized. It improved me," said Sylvia.

And then Sylvia reluctantly gave his brother some credit for his development. Some, not a lot.

"I'll give him a little credit. Maybe five percent," Sylvia said with a smile.

Sylvia remembered being a ball boy for the varsity team during his brother's high school years and watching the team's success. It was a time period that just reinforced his drive and desire to help his teams achieve success.

And succeed he did.

Sylvia leaves the Pirate soccer program as their the most decorated player in its history. Some of his individual achievements include being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-American Team, the Great Lakes All-Region Team, Southeast Ohio District Player of the Year, the Division IV Ohio Player of the Year.

His 171 career goals was not only a school record, but also a Southern Ohio Conference record as well.

In 2025, the senior striker piled up 50 goals on the season and seven assists to help lead the Pirates to an 18-1-2 record and the program's second-ever state semifinal appearance.

Now, Sylvia has the challenge ahead of him to help the Messiah Falcons continue building on their success.

Messiah has compiled 11 national championships, 15 Final Four appearances and 20 conference championships.

However, there is a key distinction in the Messiah program. Winning doesn't come first. It's faith.

"It absolutely amazing," said Sylvia. "As my mom and dad said earlier, they're not a program that focuses solely on the soccer aspect, but they put God first and when we went and talked to the coaches they said it was funny when they put God first they became the most successful Division 3 program in the country."

"So, it's really exciting to get to Messiah and play with such a prestigious program and under really prestigious coaches"

Sylvia wants to be part of a program that isn't strictly about winning soccer games. He wants to develop more as a person than as a soccer player which is why he signed with Messiah.

"A big part of it was development not only as a soccer player but as a Christian. and as a man to become a leader in the world, in my future household, on the soccer field or wherever it may be," said Sylvia.

"They have a lot of different programs at a very high level within the academic side, so I'll be able to test the waters and decide what I feel God's calling me to."