Katherine Berlin '17 Recruiting Profile

Hello, my name is Katherine (Katie) Berlin and I am a senior at Orange Park High School in Orange Park, FL.  I have been playing soccer since I was six years old and every week since I started playing club at age ten.  I have been a starter at center back on every one of my soccer teams from U10 until the present in club ball and in Junior and Senior High School.  I currently play Varsity soccer on the OPHS team; this will be my fourth year as a starter and I am co-captain. I currently have a 4.0/4.0 un-weighted GPA and a 4.44/4.5 weighted GPA, all while taking a full course load of AP and honors classes including pre-calculus as a sophomore.  My class rank is 4th out of 362.
 
I have been extremely fortunate to have the mentorship and stability of only three incredible club coaches in my career.  Coach Roderigo Rojas of the Chilean National Team helped improve my individual tactical skills and field vision during the U11 year at Westside Soccer Club.  Coach Ben Stillwell, now at LA Premier FC, is a technician and trainer who gave me a love for the sport during my U11 and U12 years at the Westside Soccer Club in Jacksonville, FL.  Coach Stillwell used drills to help me develop a speed and agility that I did not know I possessed. 
I have played for Coach Luis Torres on the Clay County 98 SOL since my U13 year in the Florida State Cup league.  Coach Torres has been instrumental in helping me build my leadership talents and bringing me into contact with a higher level of competition, including playing and winning the Atlanta Cup, consistently ranking in the top 16 teams in Florida, and consistent play at ESPN and other national and regional tournaments.

My coaches have taught me many lessons.  Besides the technical and tactical aspect of the sport, they taught me how to be a player that would make my family proud.  They valued a strong work ethic, teamwork, and sportsmanship above all else.  My coaches would often say that you can’t truly appreciate winning if you have never lost.  If you are looking down at a teammate or the opposition, it better be with an outstretched hand to help them up.  It is as much your attitude on the field that defines you as it is your skills.

I apply a positive mental attitude, strong work ethic, team work and sportsmanship on and off the field.  Since freshman year, I earned varsity letters in four sports (Volleyball, Soccer, Track, and Flag Football) every year.  I am on track to be Orange Park High School's first female athlete to earn varsity letters in four sports for four straight years. I was freshman of the year in track and field and am co-captain of the Varsity soccer team for the past 3 years.  I was awarded MVP for my high school soccer team my junior year and have been an All Conference award winner sophomore and junior year.

 I am a member of the Student Council, Mu Alpha Theta (Math honor society), National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Readers Anonymous Book Club, Students Working  Against Tobacco, and Journalism (Year Book).  I also play the flute, piano, and drums and was Duchess of my school’s Homecoming Court (chosen by the students).  I was the Miss Orange Park High School Scholarship Pageant winner and am currently President of the Senior Class.  I have been editor of the Yearbook my junior and senior years.

I believe that I have the drive, determination, and work ethic to succeed in college, both academically and on the soccer field.  I look forward to the challenges ahead and playing at the next level.