Tyler VanDerVelden '21 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing soccer for as long as I can remember. I love this game because it not only challenges you to push harder physically but also mentally.  As a player, you have to truly understand the game to succeed. I believe I was born to play the beautiful game of soccer. 

My name is Tyler VanDerVelden. I am a centreback for my club team and my high school soccer team. Ever since I was young, I was never as big as the other kids. To me, this was just another obstacle life has thrown me. This drives me to become a faster, stronger, and smarter player. This sport has taught me that size does not matter. The player that has more heart and is more driven to succeed and be the best version of themselves wins. As a player, I have a year of freshman soccer and JV soccer experience under my belt. I started at centreback both of those years and even had a fair share of starts at left back as well. I live in a household where I have 4 siblings- 2 triplet brothers, an older brother, and an older sister, all of which played soccer, so competition is a huge thing in my family.  I am a good candidate for college soccer teams around the country because I have been playing soccer my whole life, and I have no quit in my body. I am driven to be the best version of myself. I have a very good work ethic and strive to reach my best by working hard. This not only applies to the soccer pitch but also in school. I attend Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, New Jersey. Each day consists of doing homework for all classes, studying for tests, and making sure I understand every topic I am learning in school. I attempt going to the gym and training at a field near me apart of my daily routine, but school and academics always come first. This means I must study hard and work efficiently to make time for my training sessions and workouts.

My mother supports me through all of my decisions I make and plays a huge role in my life. She is always there for me when I go through my ups and downs in school and in soccer. She helps me overcome adversity, and I could not be more grateful. She has taught me my competitive nature and has taught me to give everything I have in whatever I do whether it is playing soccer for my club and high school team or a project assigned in school.  My mom supports my decision in me pursuing my dream, which is to become a professional soccer player. I am forever grateful for my mom and my family, and I aim to make her proud by getting a scholarship to a great school. Thank you for viewing my profile.