Trinity’s Greg Fischer fires off a penalty shot in the first half against Oldham County. October 5, 2015.
Greg Fischer is the engine that propels the Trinity soccer team.
The senior midfielder is a goal scorer, and creator, for the Shamrocks (21-1-2), who are ranked No. 2 in the state’s Maher Rankings and riding an 11-match winning streak heading into their state quarterfinal against No. 5 Covington Catholic at 6 p.m. Saturday evening at Henry Clay in Lexington.
So far this season Fischer has netted 16 goals and a team-high 28 assists for Trinity.
When, and how, did you start playing soccer?
I probably started playing soccer when I was 2 or 3, around that age. My dad got me into it. He wanted me, at a young age, to participate in sports. Over the years in middle school I was down to two sports basketball and soccer. I was too short (5-foot-8) to be a basketball player and I just loved soccer, it’s definitely my favorite sport. And, I was better at it than basketball.
You’re left-footed, are you left-handed too?
The only thing I do lefty is kick, everything else I do righty. I guess it just came naturally.
You have the same name, even the same spelling, as the Louisville mayor, but you aren’t related to him, right?
Correct.
But because of that your nickname is “The Mayor.” Do you like it?
It took me a little while to get used to, people calling me “The Mayor,” but I’ve gotten used to it.
So do you think you have a future in politics?
No (he laughs).
Were you nervous heading into penalty kicks against St. Xavier in the Seventh Region final?
Going into PKs was the second time I’ve gone to PKs against St. X in a regional final. The other time was my sophomore year. I took a PK that year and missed mine (but Trinity eventually won). That was hard because that was the first PK I’d ever missed in any game. After I missed it I felt like I let the team down.
This year, I’m never really nervous on PKs, because I’m confident in myself, but this year before the (regional final) game I was thinking about PKs and hoping it wouldn’t get that far. But then when we got into PKs I threw that out of my head and buried my PK.
The last couple of seasons you all have come close to winning a state title, losing on penalty kicks in the state championship two years ago and in the the state quarterfinals last year, what’s that been like?
It’s been tough. The last few years we’ve had a really, really good chance at winning state. My sophomore year we made it to the final and lost in PKs, which it’s always tough to lose on PKs, no matter what round. Last year we were in the quarterfinals, and honestly I don’t even know what happened, it was just a couple breakdowns that cost us. But this year I think we have a good chance. We’re strong everywhere this year. I think we have a good shot.
Besides soccer, what are your other interests?
I like to play basketball for fun, just pick-up with my friends. I like to play video games, especially FIFA. FIFA is definitely the best video game. I also watch a lot of TV.
What’s your favorite TV show?
My favorite show is ‘Castle.’ It interests me and one of the main characters is funny and the other characters are funny, too.
You’ve decided where you’re going to college but you don’t want to announce it yet, but do you know what you want to study in college?
I’m not exactly sure, but my plans are to go into something in business. Maybe finance or marketing.