Braden Clark '21 Recruiting Profile

I have always been interested in sports. Playing organized sports since I was 5 years old has taught me life long lessons. However, it wasn't until my freshman year in 2018 that I picked up a lacrosse helmet for the very first time. I strapped on lacrosse pads and then picked up a 3 foot titanium lacrosse stick coach handed to me. The beauty of lacrosse is that it's a combination of all the sports I played in my childhood all wrapped into one. Defensive and offense tactics are similar concepts of basketball, players on the field are spaced as they are on a soccer field and it exemplifies the game speed of a hockey game. Personally, my favorite parallel... lacrosse is extremely physical, similar to football. It wasn't until after my first game that I realized lacrosse was my newly found passion. There was no doubt in my mind from that day forward I would pursue my dream of playing divisional college lacrosse. 

Who would have known that spring day my freshman year when I picked up that lacrosse stick for the very first time, I would be asked to play at the Varsity Lacrosse level for Christopher High School in Gilroy, California. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, I was surprised when my head coach requested I play Midfielder. Although I don't have the typical physique of a midfielder his rationale was my accuracy and velocity while shooting at the net where/are paramount to the team's success. He was right! We went undefeated and continued throughout the playoff to eventually win the PCLA Championship!

I thrive in team comradery and adapting to team dynamics. Most importantly the discipline that I've been a part of while playing lacrosse has taught me life long lessons. I've been told by coaches I make a significant impact on the field.  To believe in myself and to continue to work hard physically both on and off the field. I am coachable and find it to be effortless in learning the different aspects of the game. I try to instill the importance of self discipline and respect for not only myself, but my teammates as well as my coaches. Therefore, I continue to be a team leader and empower my teammates to become stronger and more confident to allow the team to play as a cohesive unit and ultimately win championships!

Striving for the next level both on and off the field is paramount for my future. My strength and conditioning coach and I work diligently off the field to increase my endurance and strength, as well as my lacrosse coaches to fine tune footwork, stickhandling and shooting platforms. I always continue to push myself academically to surpass my high school 3.0 GPA. 

Presently my major is undeclared, but one thing I'm certain about... 

I thrive on the lacrosse field! I am confident in my athletic abilities! I am determined to play at the next level! I am a team asset and a major contributing factor to assist in winning a Lacrosse Championship at that next level! Nothing short of a dream come true!

Braden Clark

Christopher High Graduating Class 2021