Michael O'Callaghan '16 Recruiting Profile

Hi Coach,

 I began playing soccer when I was 4 years old and competitive travel soccer when I was 7. When I was 11, I tried out and made the 98’ Ohio South State ODP team for the first time. I remember that I loved playing for the State ODP team with elite level players and representing my state at Regional Camp. That’s when I realized I wanted to compete in soccer at the highest levels, so I tried out and made the Columbus Crew Juniors Gold team. I have been playing for them ever since making that team.

I transitioned into the Columbus Crew’s Academy program and started playing for their newly formed Pre-Academy team. With their 10 month training and playing schedule, I now play pretty much year-round. Playing for the Crew has been a great honor and all my coaches have made me not only a better player, but a better and more disciplined person on and off the field and in the classroom.

I have been fortunate to have had good coaches and to grow up in a house where soccer is our passion. This has made me into an exceptionally tactically aware soccer player. Because of this I am a versatile player and am able to play in any field position where I am facing to goal. I am a one and two touch type of player with good technical skills and off the ball movement, and I am always looking for that play making type of pass or move. My tendency is to be a box-to-box type of player that connects the defense with the offense. During the course of a game, I play both offense and defense either in the middle or down the wings, depending on our team’s goals for the season or a particular game.  My favorite position is an Outside Fullback or a Wingback on either the right or the left side.

I am currently a Junior at Warren High School in Vincent, OH and will be graduating in 2016. I played for the Crew my Freshman year, but I have been a starter for Warren’s Varsity team in every game both my Sophomore and Junior years. We were Conference, Sectional and District Champions and Regional Semi-Finalists both years. We were frequently ranked in the top 15 (out of 186 teams) in Ohio Division II with an overall record of 17-3-2 my Sophomore year and 19-2-2 my Junior year.

I have been weight training for a little more than a year now and have gained 50 pounds. I have also grown 9” in height over the past year and I am still growing. I am currently 149 pounds and have a goal of reaching 155 pounds before my Senior year and at least 160 pounds by the time I graduate from High School. I also have a professional Strength Trainer and have been focusing on soccer specific plyometric and strength training to help me increase my explosiveness.

My education is important to me. With my busy schedule of year-round soccer, it has taught me how to be very disciplined with my education and studies. I have learned how to properly manage my time to study and I have maintained a good GPA. I want to study either Computer & Information Sciences or Engineering in college.

Again, thank you for your time. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you think I am a good fit for your soccer program and college.