The Message

Well, I was always middle of the pack when it came to strength all the way through my junior year playing high school soccer. Of course I had a strong leg, but my upper body wasn't exactly filled out like it should be. So, the off season going into my senior year I started lifting a little, but still not as much as I should have. Then I was approached at one of my games by the Transylvania soccer coach, and he told me he really wanted me to come play for them next season. However, it was what followed that statement that really motivated more than anything: "if you put on a good ten to fifteen pounds of muscle in your upper body you have the chance to really compete for some good miunutes and maybe even a starting job." This was a huge wake-up call that I have used to motivate me. This was during the season so I couldn't start my strength training right at that moment because every good athlete knows that the majority of your improvement, as far as aerobic and strength, comes during the offseason. So, I finished the rest of the season with a few more coaches contacting me with the same message but none of them seemed to be the right fit like Transy did. I finished the season on a good performance of my own, but it was not the ending I had been dreaming of since I entered high school. We had lost to Henderson County in the regional Finals, the only positive being that I got All-Third Region Tournament Team. I couldn't really appreciate this award because I had failed in my goal to make it to the final four. My teamates and I were devastated becuase this was supposed to be our year to make it, but we had failed in the worse way possible, penalty kicks. The next few weeks I spend sulking, but then it was time for me to set my new goal: College Soccer.