Personal Statement
Hi, my name is Grant Kaifas, I am 17 years old, starting goalkeeper on both my club and high school team and member of the class of 2022. I am a senior at Marysville High School in Marysville, OH. My accomplishments include:
1st Team All-OCC Conference, Division I - 2021
2nd Team All- District, Division I - 2021
2nd Team All-OCC Conference, Division I - 2020
Team Captain - 2021, 2020
Team MVP - 2020
I play club on the Ohio Premier (OP) 2003/04 NPL Black team, coached by Matthew Kovach. We compete with the country's top soccer clubs in showcases and national/regional matches.
My High School head coach is Brent Harmanis, who has built our program on three pillars - 1) In the classroom, 2) In the community, and 3) On the field. I embrace that philosophy and relay it to the underclassmen to help them better understand the importance of of great teammate.
From the time I started playing soccer around the age of 4 years old, I wanted to defend the goal. I always gravitated toward defense and wanted to stop the offense from scoring. My passion for goalkeeping continued to grow through the years. I have been driven to succeed, preparing both mentally and physically in academics and in soccer, training intensely, and playing at a high level to continue to improve my techniques.
In the off-season/winter, I attend College ID camps, GK camps, and academies to sharpen my technique and skills. I also participate in goalkeeper training year round with the Ohio Premier GK Coach, Chad Prickett.
My goals for high school have been to continue to work hard the next year to keep my 4.00 GPA and keep challenging myself both on and off the field. In May 2021, I was honored with the Le Herron Rising Leader Award, being recognized as a student in Union County, OH who demonstrates authentic servant leadership. I am matched up with a mentor to help develop and grow my leadership skills.
I will continue my drive as I consider colleges that are a good match for me; both academically and athletically. I understand that important decisions are in my near future and I have the best support from my family. My family plays an important role throughout the process and they help guide me making good decisions.