Raphael Wong '20 Recruiting Profile

Hi, my name is Raphael Wong, my friends and teammates call me Rafa.

I have played soccer since I was 5. I started playing Travel club ball when I was 7 and have been playing ever since. I started out as a forward, and occasional goalie, but converted to Left/Outside back around age 11.

When I was entering High School, I switched clubs to Crystal lake Force so that I could play on their Elite Team and take part in Premiership ball and be on a more competitive team.

I am currently on the Crystal Lake Force 01 Elite team playing High School level in the NISL, as a well as the NPL team in the NISL (a showcase type team). I am also on the the Chicago Rush Select 2001 Team, also a Showcase type team.

I go to Huntley High School and am part of their Engineering Academy, and I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering in college. I started on JV as a Freshman and a Sophomore , and was a starting  outside back on Varsity my Junior and Senior year. We have a summer 3 a soccer day camp tournament every year and my team has won it the last two years; I scored the winning goal last year. I am also an avid Chess player, founding member of our HS Chess team and we have gone to state championships the last two years (and the team has only been around for two years).

I am a dynamic player that plays solid defense but likes to go forward and attack as well. I can also switch the field well and deliver some cutting through balls and over top passes to forwards.

I was at a tournament final when I was about 11, and we were playing one of the tournament favorites. We held them scoreless and went to penalty kicks. I was not chosen as part of the initial five penalty takers, so I watched and as my teammates did their best. We lost in penalty kicks, and the feeling I had from that was devastating. Afterward I practiced penalty kicks every chance I got because I wanted to be the one to take the kick and wanted to be ready. In Club and High School, I have taken several and have not missed one in a game yet.

I look forward to achieving my College academic and athletic goals after graduation.