Gabriel Maksymiw '21 Recruiting Profile

Respected Coaches,

My name is Gabriel Maksymiw, I attend Clifton High School, home of the Mustangs. There I play soccer at the Varsity level and have been doing so since my freshman year under head coach Stan Lembryk. At Clifton, I am enrolled in multiple honors and AP classes. As well as athletic excellence, I strive for academic excellence also. I was the Valedictorian of my 8th grade class when I graduated middle school and carried most of my study habits into high school. 

Growing up, I have always been very competitive. Whether it was a simple race between my friends and me or a tournament final, I wanted to win. In college I am looking to play for a competitive school and compete for championships. I have gained this drive from my own father. He himself played college soccer at Ramapo College and shared with me his passion for the game. He has provided me with the resources to make leaps and bounds with perfecting my technique and making multiple connections through playing soccer. For instance, my club team, The New Jersey Stallions, have competed in tournaments in Paris, France and Madrid, Spain. I, myself have also played in Ukraine where I experienced a whole different style of play compared to the French or Spanish style. I personally am Ukrainian so being able to play the game I love in my home country was a dream come true and a humbling experience.

I am also one of the captains of my high school soccer team. As a captain, I look to bring out the best in my teammates and motivate them to train hard and play their best every time they step foot on the field. I remind my teammates that tomorrow is never guaranteed and that this is why they should always strive to play their hearts out day in and day out. Personally, I missed my entire sophomore high school season due to a meniscal tear in my left knee. This motto that I try to pass to my teammates is one that I live by since my injury. I have made a full recovery since my injury in the summer of 2018 and look to win multiple championships for my high school team.

I believe I am a good candidate for any college team looking to recruit a goalkeeper. I am a commanding presence on the field who can lift up his teammates when they seem to be having an off day. I can assure you that with my desire to improve myself, you will not have to worry about my academics as I will try to not only meet your school's requirements, but try to exceed them. I will give you 110% of my focus and effort everyday on and off the field because that's the kind of person I was raised to be. 

Once again, thank you for taking the time to read about me, and I look forward to making many new connections in the future. 

Gabriel