Glencoe soccer's Aiden Cornutt set AHSAA records while building lasting bond with his dad
Just over 15 years ago when Aiden Cornutt stepped on to the soccer pitch starting out in a rec league, it would be hard to image that he would one day become one of the top five high school goal-scorers in the history of the state.
He started playing in a local league when he was 3, with his dad, Daniel, who would later become his coach during his rec league days. At the time Glencoe High School didn't have a boys soccer team. That changed seven years ago, with Daniel became head coach and Aiden coming the following year and starting on varsity since seventh grade.
That all led to his fourth goal six years later against Weaver last week, in which the now-senior crossed into the top five in AHSAA history for career goals scored, passing the 145 goals by Fairhope's Ryan Strachan. Aiden believed that was the goal to get into a tie for fifth place, but it wasn't until after the game that his parents told him he actually broke into the top five.
"It's crazy. I never thought it would have ever evolved into this, but God does crazy things. I think it's all God: He used this sport, He saw that I had interest in it to give me a platform to glorify him," Aiden said.
On Tuesday, his high school career ended as he scored his 43rd goal of the season to finish with 153 career goals in a win over Geraldine.
Starting a program
This season was a banner year for the Yellow Jackets even if they didn't get over the hump and make the playoffs. They were one game out of the playoffs and had the first winning record in program history, a long way from a win-less debut season back in 2014. A lot of it goes back to Aiden and Daniel and the contributions they made to the program.
"There's been some hard times, but I think all the hard times have helped me be prepared for what it is to come. It's obviously great, and I'm blessed to see all that come to fruition," Aiden said.
While Aiden entered the top five for goals scored, he already held the AHSAA record for most hat tricks in a career with 23. Teammate Ian McClantoc broke the AHSAA record for longest goal earlier in the year, and Connor Montgomery, who has played alongside Cornutt for five years, is primed to enter top five for assists with 47.
"This was really such a fun year to watch them, because we can actually watch and enjoy them," Daniel said. "... It's a hard rationale to coach and watch but I loved it, I enjoyed it. I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Playing with dad
One of the more special parts of Aiden's record-breaking career was being able to share the memories of it with his dad. They have bonded over the sport, one that wasn't entirely popular in northeast Alabama when Aiden started. For Daniel, the most important thing he'll take from the experience is being able to spend time with his son.
"The older I get, time is most valuable thing to me. Just to be able to spend all that time with him, I will cherish that forever. I will hold onto that time in my mind forever," Daniel said.
Daniel played baseball in the area and left his own legacy. In starting the soccer program and getting it to the height where three players have etched their names into the AHSAA record books, he has created a new legacy that will always be tied to with his son.
"It's been great. That's obviously a really special and awesome thing. That's really the part that's emotional. Me and my dad, that's how we grew up. We've grown up together in soccer," Aiden said.
Daniel will be stepping down as Glencoe's coach but not straying far. He will be restarting the soccer journey with the youth soccer team of his his youngest son, Isaac. Aiden hung up his cleats Tuesday and will pursue a career in ministry, starting with college at Highlands College in Birmingham after graduating as valedictorian.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Aiden Cornutt joins AHSAA soccer record book to cap Glencoe career
