Tom Cillo is hoping to show that age is nothing however a quantity — even on the soccer discipline.
Cillo, 58, is at present a freshman defensive lineman for the Division III Lycoming Faculty soccer staff in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
“I assumed, I'm going to provide this a shot and I'm going to put in writing the script,'“ Cillo advised WNEP TV earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season. “I'm not going to let someone discuss me out of this or self-doubt pull me again.”
Cillo is 4 years older than his head coach, Mike Clark, and all three of Cillo's youngsters are older than any of his teammates.
Greater than 4 many years after graduating from Williamsport Excessive Faculty, Cillo is giving soccer one other shot after quitting the highschool staff throughout his freshman 12 months and getting concerned with medication and alcohol.
“Actually, I'd have appreciated to have performed this proper out of highschool, however the indiscretions of my youth prevented that,” Cillo advised The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Cillo has been hitting the books, too. He's majoring in Prison Justice at Lycoming whereas he lives out his gridiron desires.
For extra on Cillo's journey, hold studying.
How Did 58-Yr-Previous Tom Cillo Come to Play Faculty Soccer?
Having by no means attended faculty, Cillo hit up Lycoming coach Mike Clark and requested for a gathering.
As an NCAA Division III faculty, Lycoming does have an age restrict on scholar athletes.
“My customary form of joke is that, if he appeared just like the 58-year-old model of me, I'd by no means let him play,” Clark advised The Philadelphia Inquirer earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season. “However he's legitimately sturdy and he's taking actually excellent care of his physique. That doesn't imply it's going to be simple for him, however his want to do it was actually sturdy.”
Clark added, “He desires to chase the dream. And even when he doesn't play a major variety of performs for us, I do suppose there's superior worth in what he may help educate the blokes on our staff.”
Cillo didn't see any enjoying motion throughout Lycoming's first two video games, each losses.
What Was Tom Cillo Doing Earlier than He Enrolled at Lycoming Faculty?
Cillo resigned from his job as an gear supervisor at his alma mater, Williamsport Excessive Faculty, to be a full-time scholar at Lycoming.
“After I was a younger lad, I'd stroll via there day by day to get to the YMCA,” Cillo advised the Williamsport Sun Gazette in August concerning the Lycoming campus. “I've simply all the time had an affection for the faculty and that's one of many causes I need to make it work there.”
Cillo is the daddy to a few kids: son Shawn, 32, daughter Nicole, 28, and son Ryan, 21.
Cillo Is an Completed Powerlifter
Cillo has a decades-long historical past of competing in powerlifting, Strongman competitions and has run a number of half-marathons.
Final 12 months, Cillo broke the Pennsylvania state deadlift document (580 kilos) for the 55-59 age group.
“Within the weight room, he's a beast,” Cillo's teammate, defensive again Mario Samony, advised WNEP. “He can throw round some weight. He may deadlift. I've seen a video of him pulling a fireplace truck. It simply will get the vitality going, makes folks need to raise heavier. It simply makes our staff higher.”
Cillo Will get Mistaken for a Coach on Campus
It's not day by day {that a} 58-year-old roams a school campus — not as a scholar, a minimum of.
When Cillo first arrived and tried to enter the eating corridor, workers members would maintain out a chart for him to signal, assuming he was a coach.
“They'd maintain the chart out for me and I'd say, ‘I'm a participant,'” Cillo advised The Philadelphia Inquirer. “And one lady mentioned, ‘Oh, come on, cease.' I believe some individuals are nonetheless getting accustomed to the concept of this man.”
