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May 21—AIKEN — Savvas Chionakis has reached exceptionally high ground in both academics and athletics in the past few years, and the Aiken Scholars Academy senior is now on course to take his talents about 50 miles north.
Lander University, in Greenwood, is beckoning for the soccer standout, and Chionakis confirmed his plans May 19 to compete for the Bearcats, having a gathering at South Aiken High School, which he has represented as a record-setting striker.
Chionakis, whose parents are Nick and Georgia Chionakis, racked up a variety of highlights over the past season, including setting South Aiken's all-time record for goals in a single season: 38. That put him first in the region and earned him all-region recognition for the third time and all-state honors for the first time.
Brad Reinhart, South Aiken's coach, describes Chionakis' role as "fantastic." He added, "He finished his high school career here with 93 goals ... and then 33 assists as well."
Chionakis, who picked up the game at about age four or five, recalled getting some inspiration by way of his brother, Charlie. "My brother ... played in this program, so ... when I watched him when I was little, I said, 'Oh, this is something I want to come up and do and try to be the best at,' and that's just always been my motivation to keep pushing and try to become a great South Aiken player," he said.
Lander, he said, was the school of choice because of its in-state location, the overall atmosphere and the soccer program's new coach.
"You've earned every single second of this," Reinhart said, speaking to Chionakis at a gathering in the library.
Recalling the past few months, the coach added, "As far as this season goes alone ... he was the striker. Everybody knew this. We are going to feed him all day long until he can't take it any more, and he wanted more and more and more every single game."
The Thoroughbreds wound up the 2026 season at 13-7 overall and 9-4 in Region 4-AAAA (third place).
Chionakis, listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, said he is aiming for a degree in business, possibly to continue in his family's work with rental properties.
Lander, in the 2025 men's soccer season, placed second among the Peach Belt Athletic Conference's seven teams, going 7-2-3 in the conference and 9-3-6 overall. North Georgia placed first. Following Lander, in order, were Flagler, Clayton State, Georgia Southwestern, USC Aiken and Middle Georgia.
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Lander University, in Greenwood, is beckoning for the soccer standout, and Chionakis confirmed his plans May 19 to compete for the Bearcats, having a gathering at South Aiken High School, which he has represented as a record-setting striker.
Chionakis, whose parents are Nick and Georgia Chionakis, racked up a variety of highlights over the past season, including setting South Aiken's all-time record for goals in a single season: 38. That put him first in the region and earned him all-region recognition for the third time and all-state honors for the first time.
Brad Reinhart, South Aiken's coach, describes Chionakis' role as "fantastic." He added, "He finished his high school career here with 93 goals ... and then 33 assists as well."
Chionakis, who picked up the game at about age four or five, recalled getting some inspiration by way of his brother, Charlie. "My brother ... played in this program, so ... when I watched him when I was little, I said, 'Oh, this is something I want to come up and do and try to be the best at,' and that's just always been my motivation to keep pushing and try to become a great South Aiken player," he said.
Lander, he said, was the school of choice because of its in-state location, the overall atmosphere and the soccer program's new coach.
"You've earned every single second of this," Reinhart said, speaking to Chionakis at a gathering in the library.
Recalling the past few months, the coach added, "As far as this season goes alone ... he was the striker. Everybody knew this. We are going to feed him all day long until he can't take it any more, and he wanted more and more and more every single game."
The Thoroughbreds wound up the 2026 season at 13-7 overall and 9-4 in Region 4-AAAA (third place).
Chionakis, listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, said he is aiming for a degree in business, possibly to continue in his family's work with rental properties.
Lander, in the 2025 men's soccer season, placed second among the Peach Belt Athletic Conference's seven teams, going 7-2-3 in the conference and 9-3-6 overall. North Georgia placed first. Following Lander, in order, were Flagler, Clayton State, Georgia Southwestern, USC Aiken and Middle Georgia.
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