Third all-time in points (goals and assists) in Warren Area High School’s 27-year boys soccer history, Ordiway will continue playing at NCAA Division III Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove beginning this fall.

“I love everything about soccer,” said Ordiway, a four-year letter winner and two-year captain, who helped lead the Dragons to a 52-18 record over four years. “They don’t call it ‘the beautiful game’ for no reason. The passion it ignites and devotion people show to the sport are something you don’t see with any other sport. I think what I love most about it is the team-play aspect. Being on the same page with 10 other guys and each giving it all you have creates bonds and friendships like nothing other. Putting the ball in the back of the net isn’t too bad either, though.”

Ordiway was named a District 10 and Region 4 boys soccer all-star for a senior season during which he scored 25 goals and added 22 assists over 17 games.

“Some of my best memories definitely have to be my sophomore season,” said Ordiway of a year the Dragons were 15-1 overall and undefeated in region play. “Being able to play with a lot of my best friends and the run we made was more special than any other season I’ve ever had. As well as being recognized by region and district coaches — to be region first team and district first team my last three years really gave me the boost to think I could make it at the next level.”

Times Observer file photo Warren’s Parks Ordiway finished his four-year career with the Dragons third all-time in points.

From there, choosing Susquehanna was easy, he said.

“The thought about playing soccer at the next level didn’t really happen for me until just about the end of my junior year when I decided I wanted to start taking it seriously and work for some opportunities to keep playing at the next level,” said Ordiway. “The process on settling on Susquehanna was easy. They were one of the top schools in the country in the field I wanted to pursue and that high level of academics was what drew me in. I was able to attend an ID camp for the soccer team and after I had made the decision to come in the fall and I was lucky enough to get a spot on the preseason roster and a chance to compete at the collegiate level.

“Playing at the next level will definitely be a change of pace compared to high school soccer,” he added. “It’ll be a much faster-paced game and I’ll be taking the field often with guys a few years older than myself. Improvements in my physical abilities will be extremely important as well as having the mentality that I can go out there and compete with guys older and bigger than me.”

The choice of university might have been easier than the sport. Ordiway finished his high school basketball career with 872 points and three all-region all-star nods.

“There was always the thought of playing basketball at the college level. It was the goal even from a young age up until I decided I wanted to pursue soccer,” he said. “I’ve been communicating with some of the coaches (at Susquehanna) and all the guys on the team keep in touch daily in our team group chat so the bonds have already started to form with everyone in the program, which will be important coming into the preseason in a few weeks.”

Taking a page from high school, he knows that four years goes by quickly.

“Looking ahead to 2027, I’d like to have cemented a spot in Susquehanna soccer history and hopefully be a part of a building team that turns into a conference powerhouse,” said Ordiway. “On the academic and more important side of things, graduation is of course, the goal, but furthering my education in graduate school in pursuit of being a pediatrician is where I’d like to be.”

But he won’t forget the previous 18 years.

“My biggest influences … have, of course, been my parents,” said Ordiway, son of Mark and Amy Ordiway. “Between taking me to every game, practice, and the like, and just being my biggest supporters, I owe it all to them.

“Another huge personal influence was Chris Darling,” he added. “Being my soccer coach for just about all of my young life and then being able to be under him in high school, the life lessons he taught me … have not gone unnoticed and I know I’ll be using the things he taught me every day for the rest of my life.”