Matt Horn declines pro soccer, heads to medical school

By Casey White
whitec@mytjnow.com

Matt Horn, a senior at Winthrop, was faced with a decision that not many students ever have to deal with during their schooling.

Horn was drafted in the Major League Soccer draft in January, but he was also accepted to medical school at the University of North Carolina. The defender had to decide whether to advance his soccer career and play professional soccer or continue his schooling in medical school. 

Horn was drafted in mock drafts for the MLS, so he had an idea of what the draft process was like. After being drafted in the mock drafts he still wasn’t fully aware of what to expect in the real draft. When the draft results came out, Horn found out that the Colorado Rapids selected him in the draft. 

“It’s a big honor to be selected,” Horn said. “I was really, really excited. I was in Indianapolis with some friends, so I got to celebrate.” 

About two weeks after being drafted into the MLS Matt was accepted to medical school at UNC. 

“UNC is one of the best medical schools in the country, so I was really honored to be accepted there,” Horn said. 

Horn has been spending his time weighing the options and deciding which path he will take for his future.

“I think I’m going to go to medical school at UNC next year, “ Horn said. 

The decision did not come easy, but Horn says that after praying, talking to his parents and his coaches, medical school seems to be the right option for him. 

The decision came about because medical school is a long process and Horn thinks that it’s better for him to start earlier rather than later.

“Med school takes, like, forever so I thought I should jump right on it” Horn said. 

Although Horn has enjoyed his time spent playing soccer at Winthrop, he feels that his heart really belongs to the medical world.

“It’s my true passion,” Horn said. “It’s what I want to do.”

Some people may be surprised by Horn’s decision to skip out on the chance to play professional soccer, but Horn says medical school at UNC is something that has been a long-term goal of his.

“I was always kind of preparing in undergrad to go to med school,” Horn said. “I’ve always been putting academics a little above athletics. Fortunately I had a good soccer career so I had both of those opportunities, which was great.”

Horn said that medical school has a great number of specialties, but his main areas of interest are pediatrics, oncology, infectious disease and orthopedic surgery.

Medical school may be the choice that Horn has made, but he does continue to play soccer whenever he can. He will try to play either intramural at UNC or just find people who enjoy playing for fun. He hopes that someday he may be able to coach some form of soccer on the side. 

Horn said there are a great number of things he will miss after his soccer career at Winthrop ends.

“The thing I’ll miss the most is my teammates and being able to be around them all the time,” Horn said. “The whole environment is awesome, and I’ll miss getting to play everyday.”

Horn is thankful for all of the opportunities he has had and the people he has been able to meet at Winthrop.

“I’ve been really blessed to have such an awesome career here. There have been awesome people who have helped me along the way here like my teammates, coaches and professors” Horn said.  “I think a lot of the accomplishments I’ve been able to have are just a testament to how awesome people are here.”