- 2021 Highlights
Personal Statement
I play soccer because I love the game, but more importantly, I love my teammates and coaches. I'm not a "me" soccer player. I just want to win and my team and teammates to succeed. I've never been the fastest or the player with the fancy ball skills, but I see everything on the field and actively develop runs with my vision and passing accuracy. I understand the formations and the game, and despite my quiet personality, I coach both on the field, at practice, and at halftime to let my teammates know where the formations are breaking down. I'm the first to sprint the entire length of the field to hug and congratulate a score. I work, practice, listen to my coaches, and execute HARD. A coach will never get an eye roll or smart comment from me, just an "OK" or an approving head nod. I give respect and earn respect. I have built an amazing relationship with my club coaches and team over the years. I do not, and will not, let my team down. In our recent Spring club season, we have played great with a team with few subs. We have won 3 elite tournaments and to date, have lost only one club game. I've played every minute of every game for as long as I can remember and finished games with broken feet, played an entire tournament with a high and low ankle sprain because we were short on players, and most recently played with a baseball-size hematoma in my calf because I HAD to beat our cross-town rival club in a President's Cup match.
I played attacking mid in middle school club play because my passing and vision were very good. I went through a huge growth spurt in high school, and now I've found my home and a position where I thrive and take pride in trying to dominate in every game, center defensive back. I take every goal kick and direct kick for my team, and I'm lined up in the box on every corner for a header or messy goal opportunity. Now that I'm 6'4, I can cover a lot of space. I'm a big body in the middle and have translated that passing ability to start runs from the goal box and backfield with my leg strength. My goal kicks are, on average, 50 - 60 yards, and I can put a direct kick on goal from anywhere inside the mid-line with accuracy. When I'm feeling it, I've routinely scored on free kicks from 45 - 55 yards out and had five goals in our Spring club season. I must admit, it does feel good to have the opposing team not even set up a wall in front of me anymore because they know the ball is getting to the box, on goal, and they need to be there to prevent a score. I'm not afraid to bang bodies and love a good slide tackle opportunity. I have a very calm playing style, and I don't get carded or make aggressive mistakes on defense. I take my time on the back line and maintain focus up-field so that I'm not clearing the ball to space but passing to an open player.
Lastly, I'm a great student and take school very seriously. I have a 3.6 GPA. I'm not in clubs at school; I spend my time focusing on my school work, playing soccer 5+ days a week, working at Chic-fil-A as a cook, and spending time with my family and friends. You'll find me cheering on my friends at every home football and basketball game because I love sports. My goal is to find a college to pursue my career first and hopefully find a coach and team I love. While I'm a pretty good soccer player, I play for the team, the friendships, and to make my coaches proud. If a college can provide that environment, I'll be the hardest-working soccer player you have ever coached.
SENIOR HS Season Update:
Our Oakdale Bears team had a great season that included winning our conference tournament against a 4A school and winning our region in the State 3A Tournament before falling to the 3A State number 1 seed in the quarter-finals. I led a great defensive line that did not allow a goal in regionals while beating the number 1, 2 & 4 seeds. Overall, our defense allowed only 11 goals in 17 games, only 2 multi-score games, and 9 shutouts. I was also named 2nd Team All-County this year.
