Vanessa Gray '24 Recruiting Profile

I will be a 2024 high school graduate and have aspirations of playing college Soccer in a competitive environment. In Ontario, Canada we have excellent universities that would provide a strong academic base for my future endeavors.  And while the level of Soccer is highly competitive, I am interested in playing at a higher level in this sport without sacrificing the quality of my academics, which the US can offer to me. 

I am a driven and determined Center Back playing in the Ontario Provincial Development League (OPDL). As a starter for the Burlington Bayhawks U17 team I am proud to say that last year in the 2021 season we won the U15 West Division Title (Ontario).  Subsequently, I was invited to and participated in the National Development Centre Combine (NDC) which is part of the selection process for the Provincial and National teams.  For our 2022 season, I was honored by my coach when I was appointed Team Captain.  I take this role seriously, leading the team warmups at practices and games, counseling my teammates on proper pregame nutrition and physical preparation.  On the field, I know I must lead by example, expressing a good attitude and respect towards officials.  Maintaining a positive demeanor and encouragement, even when the goals are down, has helped our team through some tough matches.  

I have been named among the Top 60 Girls for First Touch Football Canada 2022 Summer Combine Series.

I am a focused student athlete and recognize the importance of having strong and stable academics. I am very interested in both Canadian and American History and Political Science, and one day see myself as a Journalist or Political Aide.

I love playing sports of all kinds as it feeds into my competitive nature! I have been playing Soccer since I was 4 years old and on a travel team since I was 9.  Competing in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu as a provincial champion lead me to many years training and competing in Wrestling.  As a wrestler, I won our national tournament 5 years consecutively.  I knew that one day I would have to decide between Wrestling or Soccer as the time commitment required to excel at either sport precluded involvement in both.  My passion for soccer won out, and now I am entirely focused on elevating my skills on the soccer pitch.  This includes a strict dietary regime, regular strength and conditioning with speed training, and a lot of footwork drills.