Skyler Calati '18 Recruiting Profile

    I am a 5'4" right outside midfielder and defender from Cedar Springs, MI and will be a part of the graduating class of 2018. I have been involved with soccer for 14 years: 1 year at the YMCA, 3 years at AYSO, 7 years on a traveling team called CASSA, and 3 years at the Cedar Springs high school (not including this year).  Within my club team, CASSA, we had won the Cherry Cup Capital tournament in Traverse City, MI taking home the championship title undefeated. However, my freshman year of high school I was handed the short end of the stick. The final day of tryouts I had tore my ACL in my right knee. Despite the devastation of being unable to play I still attended every 2-3 hour practice and every game no matter the condition in order to expand my knowledge of the game and cheer my team on.  Although the recovery seemed like a never ending process, I returned my sophomore year becoming a starter, taking a main role as a right outside defender and an occasional forward. Pushing through and striving to improve granted me the opportunity at the end of the season to be pulled up to Varsity for districts. Once moved up, my Varsity coach moved me upfront as a permanent offensive player.  My whole junior year consisted of learning and growing into a more attacking mindset.  As a player and an individual I believe the most important characteristic to carry is to strive for more for not only yourself, but your whole team. Every action you make doesn't just affect yourself, but it affects the whole team and the team should always come first.    

    Not only are athletics an important event in my life, but also where I will be continuing my academics is highly important as well. Ideally, I would like to attend a medium sized college that assists in financial aid, scholarships and grants. I am interested in staying in the northern part of the United States; however, I'd be willing to travel farther to an institute that is less out of pocket expense. At this time I am focused on finishing my general academic courses while also making it into the Physical Therapy field.