In a sport defined by fleeting moments of glory, Jackson Castro has never let the thrill of a win blind him or the sting of a loss deter him. Driven by the dream of becoming a professional soccer player, the echoes of success guide him in his philosophy of constant improvement. In his eyes, every dribble is a lesson, every match a chance to grow and every setback merely a part of the journey toward the greatness he relentlessly pursues.
But long before his dream of going pro led him to fierce competition under the lights of Morrison Stadium, Castro’s toughest rival was his dog.
As the soccer ball flitted quickly from foot to foot on the makeshift pitch that was his backyard, young Castro developed his early skills for weaving in and out of defenders with the help of the relentless energy of his furry companion. Sprinting around the yard while a streak of fur trailed behind, desperate to snatch the ball away, Castro got a taste of the thrilling journey that awaited him right in his own backyard in Plano, Texas.
“I started playing [soccer] when I was three,” Castro said. “I told my dad when I was a little kid [that] I want to be a pro, so he kind of pushed me, pushed me, pushed me, and even when I was not having fun in the moment, I never wanted to quit.”
Diego Castro, who played professional soccer for 11 years in the Chilean, Bundesliga and American leagues, proved a monumental figure in his son’s early development and understanding of the game. From mastering the basics of dribbling and honing his vision on the pitch to understanding the fundamentals of movement and spacing, his father’s guidance instilled in Castro the skills and instincts that would help define his play as he got older.
“The entire basis of my game is based on him, just because your youth coach dictates the player you are,” the Texas native said of his father, who coached him for 12 years. “He pretty much set the foundation.”
His mom, Kathy Castro, a coach with her A license coaching certification, also played an important, if different, role in helping develop Casto’s approach to soccer.
“My dad was more… like, ‘You messed up. If you don’t fix this, you’re going to fail.’ My mom was like, ‘Calm down, it’s okay,’… It was a good dynamic to have, because I learned from both of them.”
After years on the pitch, where he refined his skills under his father’s coaching and drew strength from his mother’s intelligence and support, Castro’s unwavering dream of becoming a professional soccer player steered him toward Creighton. The Bluejays’ program captured the Texas native’s attention and, on his visit, it was Head Coach Johnny Torres, the other staff and Creighton’s unique style of play that solidified Castro’s decision to wear the white and blue.
“The style [of Creighton soccer] definitely plays to my strengths, because he [Torres] lets us be creative in the attacking third of the field, and that’s what I’m good at. He gives us freedom up there, so that’s important for me,” Castro said.
After being assigned the jersey number 16, which was coincidentally the number his father wore when he played professional soccer for Dallas, Castro began his first season with the Bluejays in the fall of 2021. Yet, as the season got underway, the Texas native learned quickly that his journey to success would be laden with struggles.
Logging 718 minutes in his freshman season and combining for one goal and two assists over 17 match appearances, Castro was far from satisfied. Motivated by the ever-present notion of constantly pushing himself to his limits, the then-freshman responded the only way he knew how: practicing and working harder in the face of adversity.
“The day after games [in which] I would play 20 minutes, I was so upset… [that] I would get out early and train for a couple of hours, [and] work on things that I needed to work on,” Castro said. Harping on his development defensively– the weakest part of his game at the time– he put in the extra hours, all in an attempt to get more time on the field.
“It instilled early in my college career [the idea that] you’re going to have to earn your spot, because it’s different in club when you’re the best player,” Castro said. “It was like, ‘I have to earn my spot, so if I’m not good enough, I have to do extra. I have to do more than everybody else.’ My first year, I would try to stay out more than anybody else would, just so I could be happy with what I did.”
It was this constant desire to improve and take his game to the next level that drove Castro through all the hardships he faced throughout his first season.
“I just have to have an end goal in mind,” Castro said. “I want to go pro, and I just always try to have the mentality of ‘I haven’t done enough yet.’ … It’s good to enjoy the moment, obviously, but [I] always remember that I haven’t done enough yet, and I have to do more.”
By his sophomore year, Castro began to find his footing, bolstered by his work ethic and the exceptional talent that was the 2022 soccer roster. After a stalemate in the middle of the season jeopardized the team’s chances of reaching the Big East Tournament, Castro’s success helped usher the team into becoming conference champions and securing a Final Four spot in the College Cup. His tenacity earned him more than double the minutes he played his freshman year, tacking on 10 goals and eight assists.
When the 2022 season came to an end, Castro chose to hang up his No. 16 jersey, leaving with it the number’s familial history and ties to the adversity of his freshman year. Embracing a new chapter as an upperclassman, Castro donned the number 10, which reflected the legacy of the attacking midfielder he aspired to become.
“I like playing the 10. It’s the place where I can have the most impact,” Castro said. “Ten is the position of the attacking mid, and it’s also Messi’s number, Pele’s number… A lot of the great players that you look up to have that number … [so] once I got that opportunity, I wanted to have it.”
Even as Castro continued to flourish with the Bluejays, the support of his parents continued to serve as the foundation, guiding him just as it had since his early days.
Moving nearly 655 miles from Texas to Omaha in an RV their son’s sophomore year, Castro’s parents have continuously cheered him on, both at home and on the road.
“[My parents] drive to away games and everything. It’sreally special … to have them always at the games … They’ve done everything for me, [and] I’m very blessed,” the senior said.
And while the role of Castro’s father changed from being his son’s primary coach to a bystander cheering him on, he still offers valuable insight to his son, the coach in him always looking to teach— even from the stands.
“My dad still gives advice, becauseit’s the coach in him. He’s always telling me things I can improve on, and I think that’sreally important – just to keep learning and keep improving,” Castro said.
The mindset of ceaseless growth that defined much of his early career continued to serve Castro well, as after playing nearly 1,500 minutes and starting every match his junior season, the Texas native entered his senior year ready to embrace a new challenge: leading as one of the captains for the 2024 season.
“I feel like I’m a good leader by example,” Castro said. “I feel like I can change a game just by what I do with the ball, and off the ball as well. Because I don’t speak as much, I feel like when I do speak to someone, it means something.”
But the perspective on leadership and his changed role on the team, Castro said, does not just come from the captain’s armband that adorns his jersey sleeve.
“I think [my experience with the team] … changed because I’m a senior, and because I’ve been around longer, not necessarily because I wear an armband or not,” Castro said. “I think it’s the same thing for all the seniors. Everybody looks up to and respects [the other seniors]… because they’re older [and] they have the experience… They’re leaders just as much as I am.”
As his senior season, defined by growth, goal-scoring, winning and celebrating, winds down, Castro is acutely aware that these are among some of the final opportunities to wear the number 10. While his mindset will always reflect his constant push for greatness, this season has brought a new, more sentimental perspective, shaped by the understanding of what it has meant for him to be a Bluejay.
“I’ve really focused on enjoying [the season],” Castro said. “I’ll make sure that I’m not looking too far ahead, and I’m enjoying playing every game and the buildup to every game… I love seeing the fans every time [I’m on the pitch], and I know this is special and I’m not going to see it forever, so I’ve just been trying to be in the moment.”
From starting soccer at age three to representing Creighton in the final moments of his college career, Castro’s journey has been defined by perseverance, growth, unwavering support and a relentless pursuit of greatness – a pursuit that, while shaped by his past, continues to inspire his future.