Joseph Sparkia '18 Recruiting Profile

I didn’t always want to be a soccer player. When I was little, my parents put me in tee ball and flag football. They also signed me up for basketball camp and some floor hockey at the YMCA. But when I was six years old and my year-younger brother wanted to play soccer, my mom signed me up for the same team so she wouldn’t have to worry about me being restless on the sidelines. I wasn’t thrilled. But during those first soccer practices, I fell in love with the sport. I told my parents I didn’t want to play any other sport and, in eleven years, I haven’t. Soccer is it.

My dad, who played baseball and football (and was also my flag football coach), felt my determination to play this sport that he didn’t know much about. Because he supported me and my decision, he started studying soccer. He ordered all of the cable soccer channels so we could watch and learn from the top professionals around the world. He bought me a rebounder for the backyard and built a “soccer hop” so I could learn to pass and receive balls, and he encouraged me to try to imitate the moves of my favorite players. He worked with me in the backyard to sharpen my skills. When I wanted to show him a right-footed shot, he’d ask to see five left-footed ones first. He helped me set goals for numbers of juggles and set up fake defenders made out of upside-down trash cans for me to beat using whatever move I was trying to master.

I am now a 6' 4”, two-footed striker who is a technically gifted natural goal scorer – according to coaches at club, high school and ODP levels – with speed, and an ability to impact every game. College is the next step for me. Much like I moved from elementary school, to middle school, and then high school, I moved from recreational soccer, to a local travel team, and then to club and high school soccer. I want to earn my degree and continue playing in college. I love the game and can’t imagine not playing at that next level while furthering my education. The things that excite me most about soccer are the great touches, embarrassing an opponent with a skill, and scoring goals - while getting to be part of a team that celebrates victories and deals with losses together. I'm ready to take the next step and join a college team.