Liam Clark '19 Recruiting Profile

As a kid, I loved skiing, skateboarding, and backpacking—and I still do, but I also love being part of a team. Playing on traveling soccer and basketball teams exposed me to a higher level of athletics than what I have on the Olympic Peninsula where I live. By the end of eighth grade, I had to give up Storm King, my club soccer team, because basketball became a year-round commitment. And, I’m definitely committed! I never miss a practice, and I’m always doing the extra off-the-court stuff that benefits the team. My coach focuses on defense, and I’ve embraced his philosophy. In a lot of cases, I would rather block a shot than score on offense. As a three-year starting center, I’ve had to step up my game, build my confidence, and know my role on the team. It’s been demanding and rewarding.

In the spring of ninth grade, I discovered track, and that has been a big part of high school for me. I’m mostly a jumper, but I also compete in middle distance and hurdle events.

While I’m excited about my senior year, I’m a little sad knowing that it’s all coming to an end. In school, my favorite classes are English, Sports Marketing, and Yearbook. I take honors-level or Advanced Placement courses, and I like the academic challenge of college-prep coursework. It’s been tough to balance sports and school, but I’ve been lucky to have teachers, coaches, and parents to push me and help me navigate high school, and now I’m ready for the next step—college. Honestly, I don’t know what I want to major in. It probably won’t be math, and I’m looking for a college or university that has a diverse list of majors so that I can figure out what I want to do with my life.

As a team captain and school leader, I sometimes see myself as a lawyer or politician. I’m a strong public speaker, and I’m positive and like leading underclassmen by showing them the ropes, giving them rides to practice, and encouraging their effort and participation. Other times, I picture my future totally different, maybe a career in journalism or communications. No matter where my education leads me, I know I’ll be active and working as part of a team.