The lights of Soldier Field glowed overhead as Christopher Cupps, 16 year-old former Latin student, made his hometown debut as a professional soccer player for the Chicago Fire on May 3.
The flags snapped in the wind, the air carried the smoky scent of hot dogs, and the stadium of cheering voices blended into the noise of the heartbeat in his chest. And then, boom!—Coach Gregg Berhalter gave the nod, and Christoper ran onto the field and into the record books as the youngest starter in club history.
Christoper, a defender, played his first 15 minutes in his hometown of Chicago, wearing number 38 on his back, with the skyline’s towers watching from beyond the stands. In a 0-0 draw with Orlando City, he helped keep the opposing team off the scoreboard.
Senior and varsity boys soccer captain Ben Wilhelm followed Cupps' debut, amazed by his abilities. “To be at that level before even turning 18 is so impressive. He’s playing with players who played in Europe for as long as he’s been alive and he doesn’t miss a step,” Ben said. “Very exciting to cheer for a former Roman in the MLS [Major League Soccer].”
Dani Cupps, Christopher’s mom, was also excited. “It honestly felt much like other big firsts—his first day of preschool, first playdate, first day at Latin.”
This game at Soldier Field was a compelling follow-up to his first-ever game for the Fire in Nashville the previous week. He launched into the real-deal—the last quarter of a challenging game. “On my first start, our keeper just comes in and absolutely destroys the guy and gets a red card, so we’re down to 10 men inside 30 minutes,” Christoper said.
Christopher values playing with heart. “I absolutely love it. My favorite part is [that] it’s the pro team from my city” he said. “I've been at the club for years. I think it’s the best thing when you can play for something that you care about.”
School, like soccer, is a priority for Christoper—he and his family have adjusted accordingly to make them fit together. As a freshman, Christoper attended Latin. Sophomore year Christoper transferred to Payton for a semester with the idea the schedule might work better for soccer. Ultimately, he made the big decision to commit to online school for the rest of high school to continue with the Fire. “I was very, very, very close to quitting the Academy and just going to Latin all four years,” Christoper said. “But it was like, I’m on this track. How can I make the most of it?”
Christoper certainly did “make the most of it,” pursuing soccer with the Fire all the way to the professional league.
His mom, too, recognizes how humbling it is for Christopher to have this opportunity. “So many incredibly talented young players wait years for contracts that never come,” Ms. Cupps said. “Christopher’s surrounded by great people at the Fire, and he’s approaching this first job with the focus and maturity of someone who knows how lucky he is.”
The night before a game Christoper writes out three objectives for himself to focus on during the game, but equally important is the role his dad plays the morning of. “Game day always includes pancakes, made by my dad, of course,” Christoper said.
Christopher’s parents have supported him in soccer throughout his life and watched him thrive on the field. His mom first realized he could go pro so young just this February when he was handed a contract. “Until then, his dad and I were basically stumbling behind Christopher, trying to help him juggle school and soccer. Looking back, it might seem like we saw pro potential and made a series of tactical decisions, but the truth is, we were always a step behind, reacting rather than planning,” she said. “Even when the Fire invited us to a meeting with the coach, we didn’t expect what was coming.”
Christoper was dedicated to the Fire for a long time before earning his way to signing with their professional team. He started soccer at just 5 years old and joined the Chicago Fire organization at 8, playing for the Academy team by age 11. This spring, he changed his plans from committing to play for the University of Notre Dame to signing professionally.
“As you move up in level[s], your mistakes get magnified to extremes. Having the technical ability to adapt to new situations is really important,” Christoper said. “Especially as a young defender because I am learning how to read situations and look like I have experience when I don’t compared to the guys I am playing against.”
The strength and experience of his teammates not only contributes to the advanced level of the game but also builds perspective for Christoper, who recently turned 17. “I go home and do my homework while other guys go home and take care of their kid,” he said.
In this way, he’s already launched into the “real world” that many student-athletes aren't exposed to until after college, but he still carries fond memories of his experience at Latin. “What I remember most was this history class with [Upper School history teacher Kristin] Gulinski,” Christoper said. “It was a really good time and a fun class.”
That fun class? Ms. Gulinski remembers it too—and their World Cup deal.
“I always used to joke with Christopher about if he were to get to the World Cup one day that he would get me tickets to see him,” she said. “I could see why he's so good on the soccer field, because he [would] apply the feedback that I would give to him, make the adjustments right away, and improve very quickly.”
His productivity could be a superpower this year. In addition to this first job, Christoper is taking two AP classes, doing some compelling student-pro athlete juggling. His weekday schedule includes morning practices, team lunches, film sessions, and ice baths, followed by attending online school in the afternoon. Then, of course, he travels on the weekend for games.
“I really can’t waste time in the day,” Christoper said. “There’s a lot of sacrifices. It took thousands of hours of playing soccer instead of going to high school parties or spending time with friends and all these things. I’ve been to one graduation, and it was my sister’s. I missed my own elementary school graduation.”
The tradeoff is clear, but Christoper embraces it. “You have to put a lot into it. But then, what you put into it is what you’re going to get out. I’m seeing that now.”
Ms. Cupps sees it all firsthand. “I get a little irked when soccer makes it so difficult to finish junior year like a normal kid,” she said. “But I’m a proud mom.”
Christoper keeps shooting for his dreams by setting goals for the future. “I want to play at the U17 World Cup in November in Qatar. That would be a really insane opportunity,” he said.
History proves Christoper achieves what he sets his mind to, so the Romans should look forward to making posters when Cupps goes to the Cup. It’s possible he will get Ms. Gulinski tickets, and it’s certain Mr. Cupps’ pancakes will be on the menu that morning.
Christoper’s early milestones are a testament to the power of enjoying the journey. As he said, “Take advantage of the opportunities that you get and have fun with it.”
