Ronan Hanley '27 Recruiting Profile

Ever since I could walk, soccer has been a massive part of my life. Since the age of five I have been playing competitively and am continuing to work my way up the ranks of U.S. soccer. I started my career playing two years above my age group for the Norwalk, CT travel team, and after that came the Ridgefield travel team, and then I joined my first EDP club, Inter CT, at the age of 10. Those first years playing the game were amazing for me, and I credit a lot of my skill today to the work I did back then. Even though I was just a small boy, I consistently worked to improve my skills through various drills in my backyard that developed all aspects of my game. However, the real work started for me in my last year at Inter CT. It was then that I realized that if I wanted to complete my dreams of going pro, I would need to really start training. I crafted a rigorous routine for myself that involved weight training, running, game study, technical work, and a balanced diet. I want to maximize my potential, so I have stuck to this routine for the past four years, making modifications as I go along. At the end of every week I review my training and evaluate my game to see where my weaknesses lie and how I can improve them. Then, I adjust my training regime to target those weaknesses and work to get as close to eliminating them as possible. It is important to note that these improvements were not just on the field, but off the field as well. Some of the best improvements that I have made to my training are not even related to soccer at all for most people. For example, by implementing regular meditation, cold exposure, and reading to my routine I have been able to form a clearer mind that allows me to focus on my goals and ignore distractions. All of this is what has helped me develop into the player and person that I am today. I am currently the captain of the AC Connecticut B09 ECRL team, and in my first year there we have become the state champions, reached the regional semifinals, been promoted from an EDP team to an ECRL team, and competed in the highest brackets at national showcases across the country, and we are not done yet. I have come so far on my journey to fulfilling my dreams of one day playing in Europe, and I will let nothing stand in the way of me completing those dreams.