By Tommy Howard

thoward@gtowntimes.com

Dustin Maglich is the first person from Andrews High School to sign a letter of intent to play soccer.

He did it on Wednesday with his family, teammates and others looking on.

Maglich has been playing soccer for eight years -- almost half his lifetime -- and thoroughly loves the game.

He will go to the University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie in Beaufort for a two-year degree.

He plans to go on to finish a four-year degree, then enroll in the Medical University of South Carolina and become a doctor of physical therapy.

Maglich picked the Salkehatchie campus of USC after looking around at different schools. "This one is the best for me," he told the Georgetown Times.

"They're going to let me play soccer, and they offer different classes I need."

The soccer player has seen how physical therapists can help people recover from an injury and wants to be able to do the same for others.

"I tore my ACL," Maglich said. "I just want to help people get back to be able to walk again, or whatever they need."

After completing his college studies, he will probably work in the Charleston area as a doctor of physical therapy.

Back in 2002, Dustin Maglich started playing soccer with the Georgetown County Parks and Recreation Department program.

He played JV soccer at Andrews and is in his fourth year for the Andrews High School soccer team.

Yellow Jackets coach Chris Hapeshis said Dustin is team captain for the boys' varsity.

He also plays with the Georgetown Soccer Club, where his dad Shane Maglich is coach.

Dustin Maglich coaches youth soccer with the county Rec program, and referees soccer games.

"He always helps out in anything he can," dad Shane Maglich said.

Along with family activities, school and soccer, Dustin was previously involved with the JASON project. That's a summer program about the environment and science that was held at Hobcaw Barony.

His family includes his dad and mom, Shane and April Maglich, and brothers Damien, Dane, Dustin, Dalton and Dayton.