Bennett Bluey '23 Recruiting Profile

I have always felt a deep sense of joy when playing soccer, the sport has given me a space to be free, and express myself. I first found love for the game at age four, and it’s still growing. I will always feel grateful to be able to play soccer and I appreciate watching the game as well. Every time I have a ball at my feet, I feel free of worries and doubts, it is my most joyful experience. I appreciate soccer as a learning experience not only on the field but also off of it. I have grown as a player and a young man as well; soccer has shaped my character. 

Building my character through soccer has expanded and enhanced my play on the field. I have built confidence as a player and have learned how the power of confidence as a team can lead to success. Teamwork is a key part of soccer and this game has shown me how to fight for my team and our goals. Holding myself accountable throughout my time on the field has improved my game and helped me reflect on my mistakes during a loss or an error. By taking responsibility, I have grown so much more and faced my faults. Soccer has also given me the chance to develop discipline through constant commitment, and I have grabbed this opportunity with both arms. But I did not always understand discipline, and I do not think I fully did until my freshman year as a high school athlete. As a freshman on our JV team, I quickly saw the potential our group had to make a strong run; we ended up in the league final going unbeaten to get there. We were very confident and ready to win, but we fell flat, a gut-punch 2-0 loss at the end of what had been a great run. The loss left me angry, confused, and shocked; I turned to the offseason to refocus. That summer, I began to discover my own discipline and started to understand what my team and I lacked going into that final. I learned that summer, in order to get better, discipline is essential. I returned to the new season with a new goal: to step up and make varsity while earning valuable playing minutes. Eventually, things fell into place and I was able to accomplish those goals, all thanks to the way the loss in the final made me rethink and fueled me to come back a better player. 

Off the field, I have always felt like a leader, whether it be group projects in school, or organizing plans with friends, but on the field, things were not always as easy. I always wanted to be a leader and felt like I could, but up until the championship loss, I was unsure how to fully show this on the field. I began to notice how important it was for me to demand more of my team and this started once I began to demand more from myself. I noticed a positive influence immediately for myself at first and this translated to our team. I am very vocal, clear, and direct on the field, leading my teammates through games. I began to think about wanting to become a better leader when my club Coach told me that many other players on our team looked up to me—he advised me to be aware that I can influence others on the field and told me I have many qualities all captains have. I feel I am becoming a leader on the pitch just as much as I am off it, and this has come through failure, discipline, and commitment; 3 qualities that have shaped my character and made me a better soccer player. I look forward to what lies ahead.