Spencer Young '18 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing soccer since I was five years old and have been an integral part of my high school and club teams as well as a starter on my high school team since my freshman year. Being a key player and contributor to my high school’s first ever trip the IAHSAA State Soccer Tournament as a freshman was an early highlight and set lofty expectations for my high school career. We came minutes away from qualifying for the State Tournament again in my sophomore year, but were ultimately denied a return with a loss in the sub-state final.

However, I feel I have grown the most as a student-athlete during my junior year when our team set several school records; such as a our first undefeated regular and sub-state season with a 19-0 run into the State Tournament, being crowned Metro & Valley Division Champions, and Mississippi Valley Conference Champions for the first time in school history, being ranked #1 in the state and the Midwest region to finish the regular season, and being ranked as high as #5 in the nation by USA Today sports writers during the season.

I say I grew the most as a student athlete during my junior year because this was all done while I was rehabbing from a pretty severe injury and was unable to take to the field of play, all while knowing that this could have easily been the end of my athletic career.

This experience helped me grow as a person and lead me to re-focus my own efforts on becoming an even better asset to my team and to my future endeavors. (Many believe I was the missing piece in a promising post season run.)

I was awarded the Iowa High School Coaches Award for my positivity, inspiration, and off field work ethic during a tumultuous season. I cheered with the team when they won and I cried with the team when they lost; always knowing that there was no “I" in team and we truly are "We before Me” program, I knew that they had my back as much as I had theirs.

With my long time long coach and mentor that would not give up on me and wouldn’t allow me to give up on myself I reinforced my belief in the values of teamwork, commitment, sacrifice, and leadership during this year - with or without a trophy, with or without stepping onto the pitch – whatever you achieve, you achieve together.

I believe I not only have the talent to compete for a college team, but the character, work ethic, and leadership skills to make an immediate impact on a program.  As a two-sport year-round athlete, I know that I have what it takes to make my presence known!