- 2021 Spotlight
Personal Statement
My name is Christopher Kourtelidis. My goal is to play collegiate soccer at the highest level at a school where I will be academically challenged. I have a background in Martial Arts, wrestling, and track. I am grateful for being able to participate in these sports because of the valuable lessons I've learned from them. These have not only helped me become a more complete athlete but taught me the importance of mental strength. Having a strong mentality has many benefits such as increased confidence, higher composure, and the ability to endure adversity; these traits are a necessity for athletes to play under intense and stressful conditions at a high level. One thing I've learned playing soccer at a high level is the importance of attention to detail. This separates the good players from the great players. I've never realized how much of an improvement tiny adjustments can make until I implemented them into my gameplay. The ability to accept failure and use it as a learning opportunity is crucial towards development. I enjoy receiving constructive criticism from my coaches because I know their knowledge is beneficial to me. From personal experience, work ethic is the most important aspect an athlete can have. I started my club soccer career by getting cut from lower-level teams to winning state championships and receiving offers for ECNL teams and a spot on the ODP Regional team. Every team needs a strong leader. The ability to motivate, communicate, and empower is imperative to a team's success. I demonstrate these characteristics on and off the field by doing my best to improve my teammates while trying to better myself as well. Thank you for your time!
-Christopher Kourtelidis
