Joe Kennedy didn’t like what he was watching.
Kennedy is a senior at Father Judge High School and he’s also one of the best soccer players in the Catholic League.
But during his freshman year and junior year, he wasn’t helping the Crusaders like he wanted to.
Kennedy was playing for an MLS team, which meant he couldn’t play high school soccer. Sophomore year, he opted to play for the Crusaders, so he knew every guy on the team. He grew up playing soccer with many of them.
Last year, Kennedy was in attendance when the Crusaders advanced to the PCL finals, but the end result wasn’t what they wanted.
That lit a fire under Kennedy and made him want to return to the mix.
“I would go back and forth because I love playing for Judge and love playing MLS,” said Kennedy, who lives in Bridesburg. “Senior year, when you’re watching two out of three years from the stands, that was hard. That’s your school. You go there every day, it sucks to see your friends get so close. They were good. I had to come back, get there, help (coach John Dunlop), help my team, help my school.
“I went to every game I could, all the playoff games, everywhere I could be. I talked to them, told them all that I wish I played. And they did great. I was worried about my future and college so I didn’t play, but I wish I did. They’re my family. I was everywhere. I was still at Judge. I saw them every day. I just wanted to get back there and play with them.
“At the end of my junior year, I talked to JD and told him I wanted to play. Then I came to a practice. Everyone was happy because we’ve been friends for a long time. Now we get one more chance to win a championship together.”
Kennedy is back, and despite the Crusaders losing some great seniors to graduation, they’re once again one of the top teams in the Catholic League. And Kennedy is one of the reasons.
The midfielder and attacking wing has the Crusaders near the top of a very crowded and competitive Catholic League.
That’s exactly where Kennedy wants to be, but he knows he wouldn’t be there without his teammates..
Kennedy might be one of the top soccer players, but he needs to rely on his teammates for some help. He was born with profound deafness, which means he has little to no hearing.
He relies on his teammates, along with his soccer IQ and field vision to help him on the pitch.
“It’s not bad, I was born with it so I adapted to it over time,” Kennedy said. “Sometimes it’s not the best, I won’t hear something I need to, but that’s who I am. I just embrace it.
“On the field, my teammates are a lot of help. They know I can’t hear on my left side at all. They look for me. I’m always moving my head and looking around. It’s how I played soccer growing up. I just move and use vision. My dad always taught me to use my eyes to hear for me, so I do that. IQ and eyes are what I use to make up for it.”
His father has been a big part of his soccer career.
A football player growing up, the North Catholic grad signed his son up for soccer, knowing football wasn’t an option. It was a great audible.
“My dad is a huge part of my soccer, he’s been with me my whole life helping me,” Kennedy said. “He’s learned a lot, too. He’s told me he’s learned a lot from just watching my coaches. I’ve played for a lot of very good coaches and he’s learned from watching.”
It likely won’t be the last time he teams up with dad, but when they join forces again is up in the air.
His father owns KC Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners. Next year, Kennedy will either be preparing to take over the company or working there.
That depends on soccer.
“If I get a scholarship, I’ll probably go to college and play soccer,” Kennedy said. “I’ll major in business of some sort. Then I’ll go back and work for my dad. If I don’t get a scholarship, I’ll start working for my dad. They do a lot, he offers a lot of services and I’ll do that. I’ll do whatever he needs.”
That’s the attitude that made him so valuable to the Crusaders.
While a lethal scorer, Kennedy is offering his advice to younger players while being careful not to step on toes. He knows the Crusaders have plenty of leaders and plenty of talent.
Now they just need to find a way to bring home the plaque.
“I want to win it for JD,” Kennedy said. “And my teammates. They got so close. They deserved it. It’s hard to win a Catholic League championship, there are a lot of great teams. I want to do what I can to help them win.
“These are all my best friends. I see them every day in school. I wish I played last year. I wish we won last year. Now we have a chance to win this year. I’ll do whatever I can to help them.
“The chemistry from freshman year was there. All the soccer guys love the soccer guys. Even in school we build chemistry. It goes straight to the field and I’ve known them for so long. It would mean a lot to win with them.”
