Ritter Sundby '24 Recruiting Profile

https://www.rittersundby.com

Thank you for your interest! I’m a Junior enrolled at YSC Academy in Philadelphia PA and will graduate in 2005. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, I grew up in the small town of Hood River OR, 60 miles east of Portland. When the opportunity to join the Philadelphia Union Academy arrived in 2021, my family and I made the cross-country move to Philadelphia.
 
Prior to YSC Academy, I attended Hood River Valley High School's Option Academy through freshman year, earning a Varsity letter in soccer and making Honor Roll. My sights are now set on college and beyond, and I’m looking to study communications while continuing to grow as a soccer player.
 
I’m an adaptable midfielder and can shift my mentality to fit the required role. As a “late bloomer” I developed a space-conscious, two-footed, and press-resistant skill set. Since arriving at the Philadelphia Union Academy, I’ve grown a lot, added physicality and ball-winning to my game. This past season in the UPSL Premier league I appeared in every regular season game, scoring twice and assisting twice – we advanced to the Northeast American conference final. 

Through U13 I played for a local club team in Hood River under the guidance of Coach Zach Chown. In 2018 I began making the 120-mile round-trip to Portland to train with the Eastside Timbers U14 team. That year I also earned my first selection to the 2005 Oregon ODP team and the ODP Western Regional Camp. The following season, I moved to United PDX's Premier Academy (post-DA) team under Matt Broadhead, where I played for 2 years before making the transition to the Union. 

Small town life gave me lot of outdoor opportunities like mountain biking, skiing, and swimming in the local rivers. I enjoy capturing and editing video, creative writing, and re-watching the animated Avatar series. I’m now learning about the Northeast, adapting to big-city life, and searching for the best cheese steak in Philly... recommendations welcome!