Felix Gutierrez '25 Recruiting Profile

For me, volleyball is more than just a sport; it's my life. Since November of 2021, when I was a freshman, I have chosen to take up volleyball after entirely losing interest in soccer due to a coach who wrecked the sport for me. I started playing volleyball as a hobby with my friends, but later I had a moment that made me fall in love with the sport. I was practicing volleyball every day outside, getting better and better at setting, passing, blocking, and hitting. Innumerable ways have volleyball impacted my life. My physical health, emotional health, and social interactions have all improved as a result.

Owing to the lack of volleyball equipment at my high school, my volleyball-loving buddies and I purchased and set up a net at a nearby park to practice our abilities. To gain those extra practice days, we have played in the rain, snow, strong winds, and even storms. So I began working at my neighborhood pizza so I could get my own tools and advance my training. Yet my drive is what makes me different from other players. This urge won't let me go. The incomparable strength that enables me to overcome any obstacle and triumph in any joust and the absolute destruction of the ball in any spike further distinguishes me from every other player.

The passion I have for this activity only serves to motivate me to improve. I want to advance this to the collegiate level, the professional level, and eventually the Olympic level. One day, I hope to compete on the international stage with that medal around my neck to prove everyone who doubted my abilities wrong. But most importantly, to honor my mother, who helped me through everything and stood by me when no one else did.