Domingo Ortego '22 Recruiting Profile

Talent alone won't get you to where you want to be. You must be motivated, disciplined, determined and passionate. 

When I was born, my mother was told that I would never run or walk without leg braces. She accepted that as all of my doctors agreed that there was nothing that could be done. When I was 10 years old, my older brother started playing sports. I went to all of his football games and track meets and I knew I wanted to be like him. I begged my mom to "fix" me.  She went on the hunt for a dr that could help me. It took her two years before she found a podiatrist who offered a risky and exploratory surgery, but after discussing it with my now late father, they agreed to give it a try. It took two surgeries, months of rehab and physical therapy, but it worked! The day my last cast came off, I took off running and there was no stopping me. 

 My mom and I both knew that I was behind my peers when it came to ability and skills level. Especially when it came to my two loves, football and soccer. Most kids at my age started playing at 5 or 6. I started at 12. But I had a passion in me that no one could beat. I lived to train and study my craft. Although I loved football, I found myself more passionate about soccer. I made the 7th grade team as the starting goal keeper without a lick of training in my life. My coach saw a potential in me and gave me a shot. I set district records and kept on moving. My mom put me in a soccer club to gain some more training and she hired me a private coach. My entire life revolves around bettering myself and my skills. I am now on the varsity soccer team. I also play Semi pro in the UPSL. I still have growing and learning to do but I won't stop until I reach all of my goals and right now, that is to play at the collegiate level while earning my degree in business.