Zafeiratos adjusts to Indiana lifestyle

Hoosier hysteria means different things to different people.

For Aris Zafeiratos, an IU men’s soccer midfielder from Athens, Greece, Hoosier hysteria reminds him of the love abroad for the game he plays in America.

“Soccer in my country is like basketball in Indiana,” Zafeiratos said. “Everybody plays, and the fans pack the stadiums for each game.”

Spending his junior and senior years in the land of Hoosier Hysteria, Zafeiratos has adjusted to the culture and athletic skill change the move stateside has given him.

Growing up, Zafeiratos traveled 45 minutes each way to train with the Panathinaikos Youth Team.

A top club in Greece, Panathinaikos has won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.

“My father noticed that I was ahead of most of my peers with my skills, so he worked to help me to play with Panathinaikos,” Zafeiratos said.

Zafeiratos played with Panathinaikos for 12 years, from 1994 to 2006, prior to high school.

Taking opportunities and running with them has been a theme of Zafeiratos’ career.
Before entering high school, he was invited to play with the Greek U-17 national team and accepted. Several of his teammates have gone on to play professionally in leagues throughout Europe.

He finished high school with 53 career goals and 22 career assists as a team
captain.

When the time came to choose between a professional career and higher education, Zafeiratos decided to run with a different opportunity. Making his own path, he chose to come to America and do both by playing soccer in college.

Zafeiratos played for Bryant and Stratton College in New York within the National Junior College Athletic Association. During his freshman year at Bryant and Stratton, he scored seven goals and earned nine assists.

After his freshman year, he was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America second-team All-District, NJCAA second-team All-District, NJCAA first-team All-Region and NJCAA first-team All-Conference.

Improving on his freshman year, Zafeiratos recorded 12 goals and 10 assists in his sophomore season.

His list of postseason honors grew. He was named NSCAA second-team All-American and NJCAA honorable mention All-American.

After a successful career in junior college, Zafeiratos earned his spot with the Hoosiers.

Again going along with his theme, Zafeiratos was given an opportunity and ran with it whole-heartedly.

“Indiana is a really big school, and academics are very strong here,” Zafeiratos said. “The soccer program is great, and the fans support this team. When I had the opportunity to become a Hoosier, there was no way I was turning it down.”

Waiting for him at Indiana was a higher level of play, and he has had to work to become comfortable with it.

Zafeiratos said the change in play from European to American soccer has been a tough challenge.

“Here it is based more on strength and fitness,” Zafeiratos said. “Rather than relying on style and foot skills, more players just try and run by you or through you. Some players, when they come here from other countries, find it difficult to make the transition to American style.”

In contrast to the changes on the pitch, Zafeiratos said the Hoosier hysteria for Indiana soccer resembles that of his teams at home. The support the Hoosier Army and other fans have for the Hoosiers makes him feel right at home.

“I know basketball is the biggest sport in this state, but I feel like I can compare the love the Hoosier soccer fans have for us and the love the Greek fans have for their clubs,” Zafeiratos said. “In Greece, the fans are a little more hooligan-oriented, but we have some big crazy crowds for our games here, also. I know I feel like I’m playing in Europe sometimes when I look around the stadium.”