Locally, Milo Chiu might be best known for his many accomplishments on the soccer field. This summer, he continued to accomplish a lot, but not all of it was on the field. Rather, while the weather in the Fox Chapel Area was unbearably hot, Milo and his father, Percy, headed to another spot that might have been ever hotter – Guatemala. There, their purpose was to help needy families who were suffering greatly from health problems caused by primitive cooking methods.
“We installed stoves for people and families who needed help,” Milo says. “A lot of people there suffer from many health problems because they make fires in their homes to cook food. The smoke would stay in their house, making the air bad. We installed stoves with a tube that would guide the smoke out of the house.”
Milo’s act of humanity was sandwiched in between playing a lot of soccer, some with his Foxes teammates at voluntary practices throughout the summer, and other times playing on a competitive Riverhounds youth team.
With the Foxes now midway through the season, Milo has continued to showcase his talents with a hot fall on the ball.
“Milo is very intense,” says Foxes longtime soccer coach Erik Ingram. “He’s a great ball winner and understands his position exceptionally well. He is one of the best players I’ve seen all year at fully using his physical advantages on the field. He is a great role model for younger players with his intensity and work rate.”
Milo started playing soccer at the age of 5 and says that after a couple of years, he could tell the sport was a good fit for him. Now, as the team’s center midfielder, he likes the opportunity to do multiple tasks, such as reading the field and distributing the ball, and also having the flexibility to move up as an attacker or hold back to boost the defense.
“I just want to be an asset on the field, so I have the mindset that I want to always do my best,” says Milo. “While I’d say my skills are good, I think what’s most important is my desire to win the ball and give 100% all the time.”
Milo, a junior, devotes the same focus to academics. A member of the Fox Chapel Area High School National Honor Society, he signed up for six Advanced Placement (AP) courses this year, with an emphasis on math and science. That’s a hefty load for any student-athlete, let alone one who plays two varsity sports. Milo also was the starter at the 145-pound weight class for the wrestling team last season and qualified for the WPIAL Class 3A championships.
Foxes wrestling coach Michael Frank, says of Milo, “I think some people would be surprised at how well he wrestled. But that’s not a surprise to us. We saw him make the adjustments all season in the wrestling room.”
Milo says his secret to managing so many activities and responsibilities comes down to using his time wisely.
“It just takes patience,” Milo says. “Each day, I plan out my goals in my mind and just know I have to get them done.”
“There’s no one more deserving of recognition than Milo,” says coach Ingram. “He worked really, really hard to get where he is as a member of our starting lineup.”