Avi Rajbhandari '26 Recruiting Profile

I fell in love with the game of soccer at 4 years old, spending countless hours practicing with my dad, who was my coach back then, and watching videos on all who I aspired to be like one day. As I grew older my love for the sport only grew stronger as I continued to not only practice with my team but also with my brother's team who were all 3 to 4 years older than me. The older I got the more I realized that soccer wasn’t just a game to me, it was a family, it was an escape from reality that was very much needed at some times.

Winning the Idaho State Championship as a Junior on Varsity will forever be a moment recognize and cherish but I believe I began to truly understand the magic of this game when I saw teammates, parents, and coaches unite to provide a second home for those less fortunate. Seeing many of my teammates were less fortunate refugees from a very young age changed my perspective of myself as I realized I truly had no excuses to not succeed. 

Along with soccer I have spent countless hours dedicated to academic studies, with a 4.25 Grade Point Average, and ranked 8th in my class, I have the hard work and time management required to be a student-athlete. 

Teamwork, sacrifice, and commitment are all values I trust in the most as they have shaped me to be the player I am today. As a third-year captain, I know the skills necessary to be involved as a leader as well as the importance of work ethic and perseverance. I know I have what it takes to be a leader and a great player.