GREENSBORO, N.C. – Ethan Conley will be at peace when the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team steps on the pitch for its pressure-packed Southern Conference tournament semifinal match Sunday against either ETSU or Belmont at 6 p.m.
While the high-stakes playoff match will be stressful, the Wheaton, Illinois native will be relaxed because he's already come face-to-face with and conquered a different type of adversity.
The 5-foot, 8-inch UNCG junior defender has successfully managed Tourette syndrome to blossom into one of UNCG's most trusted defenders and a key performer for the SoCon regular-season champions.
"I still have tics and some days are tough," Conley said. "I've always wondered why God allowed me to have Tourette's, but recently I've discovered that it might not be about me but about who I can help from my struggles. I had been having such a hard time in life and I couldn't catch a break until one day I knew I needed help."
The syndrome is named for French physician Gilles de la Tourette, who defined it in 1885. Although the specific defect that causes it is unknown, the problem is known to be neurochemical and genetic.
People with Tourette syndrome suffer from tics and muscle contractions they cannot predict or control. They also frequently suffer from a tendency to make involuntary sounds.
"I didn't know I had Tourette's until I was 13 when I was diagnosed," Conley said. "Many kids have "tics", but for Tourette's, you have to have motor and vocal tics for a sustained period. I started CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral interventions for Tics) and took very small amounts of clonidine, which slows your heart hate. I took this for two years before getting off. I have been so blessed to have had great doctors and parents at that time."
Former professional athletes Jim Eisenreich (homered in Game 2 of the 1993 World Series), Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (1993 NBA's Most Improved Player and was No. 3 overall selection in the 1990 Draft), and Tim Howard (one of the greatest goalkeepers in American soccer history) prospered in their sports despite suffering from Tourette syndrome.
"I had a very wide range of tics," Conley said. "I had blinking tics and I had head jerking tics. I used to get migraines from the constant head jerks. Fortunately, they've gotten a lot less dramatic as time has gone on. Now, I still blink, wince, shake my head, or cough. But I've gotten extremely good at disguising them."
Conley has been playing soccer since he was 4. His dad, Keith, was his first coach. He played for his hometown team, Kopion F.C, and then for Sockers F.C Chicago. Part of his soccer journey had him playing in Barcelona, Spain when he was 13.
That experience also included attending a match between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao in which the legendary Messi scored.
This season, the high-scoring Spartans have resembled a bunch of Messi's scoring goals.
The Spartans lead the country in goals (51), points (148), scoring offense (3.00), points per game (8.71), and goal differential (39). They are third in corner kicks per game (7.29), total assists (46), fourth in assists per game (2.71), and fifth in shutout percentage (0.588).
Conley has enjoyed a front-row seat to the Spartan nightly show. He's part of a stout defensive unit that's posted 10 clean sheets this season. 
"Ethan is an incredible human being and a selfless teammate," third year UNCG head men's soccer coach Chris Rich said. "He has had a significant impact on the program the last couple of years as he is someone I have leaned on heavily. He is not only a fantastic player, but he is also someone that represents the program at the highest level. We are grateful that Ethan is a Spartan, and we are looking forward to continued success together."
During his career, Conley has helped UNCG win two regular-season championships, a conference postseason tournament title, and compete in the NCAA Tournament. The experiences will help the Spartans as they begin their playoff journey in a few days.
"This team has belief," Conley said. "There's more hunger than ever because we've progressively done better and better since I arrived in 2019. This year we have the most quality and the most belief of the three years. We love to compete here, and you can't love winning without loving to compete. So, we compete every day."
For Conley, competing is something he has been doing every day of his life.
He cherishes each opportunity and seizes each day.
"I find so much peace when I am on a soccer field," Conley said. "I love the game by itself, but it gives me a breather from a tough day. My mind gets so preoccupied, soccer is all I can focus on. It's such a gift."
Enduring the challenges of Tourette's syndrome has inspired Conley's passion for helping those fighting mental health battles. A psychology major, Conley wants to work in therapy or counseling and open a private practice whenever he finishes playing soccer.
"Everyone has had their mental health battles," Conley said. "I had mine's for over a decade fighting Tourette's syndrome. So many people suffer daily and don't talk about it. Talking about your struggles is the first step in healing. I want to use my experiences and my struggles to reach back over the hill and pull someone else up."
