Daniel Horigan '23 Recruiting Profile

Hi Coach,

Creating a personal statement is not an easy thing for me to do.  I am social with people, but wouldn't consider myself boastful.  When I asked my Dad how I should write this statement, he told me to overview my journey of the past few years.  I will do my best to keep this short, but highlight certain important parts.

Up through 7th grade I was always a straight "A" student and a soccer goalie.  Playing soccer was the thing I loved to do the most.  In January of that year I developed Amplified Muscloskeletal Syndrome known as (AMPS).  Symptoms of AMPS can be very different from person to person. Mine was uncontrolled full body cramping, where I would fall to the floor for 5-10 minutes in severe pain multiple times a day.   It is hard to diagnose and as a result I ended up in different hospitals for months and had to attend school virtually for 2nd half of 7th and all of 8th grade.

My doctors were shocked that the only time I would not have attacks, was when I was at soccer practice or in a game for my club.  I was most proud of the fact that I never missed a game and I helped my team win its championship while I was recovering.  Manny times after practice or a game, I would ask Dad for the keys to the car, because I was feeling an attack coming on and didn't want to do it in front of my team.  

As time went on and I was checked for everything from brain tumors to leukemia, when finally one of my doctors thought it could be AMPS.  Since AMPS is a syndrome, it is 100% curable, but there are only 8 hospitals in the U.S. that treat it and the waiting list was long to get in the program.  I was able to go through the month long program in Cleveland Clinic in March of my 8th grade year.  I am now fully cured, but during the two years of dealing with my issues and then the pandemic, my grades have dropped to a B average.  I am working hard to get back to where I was academically.  In our house my parents say we are students first and an athlete second.

My Mom & Dad have told me that my experience in dealing with AMPS helped build my character as a soccer player.  No matter what the situation, I don't give in or give up.  I have learned first hand what diversity is, and it went past stopping goals and winning a game.  When I was having an attack or in pain and didn't think I could go another step, I would tell myself, just one more, then two then ten.  I was not going to let AMPS beat me!  

A keepers job is to be the quarterback on the field.  He is the one who can see everything.  Leading with my voice and with my attitude are just as  important to my teammates as saving goals.  If they see me down, it will effect their performance.  Goalies need to encourage, direct movement and dictate attitudes always leading by example.  When my teammates make mistakes, I don't let them be too hard on themselves.  I learned a long time ago soccer players need  to have a short memory when things go wrong.

I have dedicated myself to being the best player I can.  I am watching what I eat and concentrating on on things I can control that will make me better.  I will be attending strength and conditioning camps this summer after Regionals and hopefully Nationals are over.  My club coach who is a college soccer coach will be running a 4 week program I am signed up for.  I will also be attending my HS captains practices as well as other keeper camps.  Additionally, I have a math tutor this summer to help me continue to improve my grades and I am taking study courses for SAT prep.  Even though I have a busy calendar this summer with learning to drive, workouts and trying to see my friends when I can, I have decided to get a job part time.  I think it is important to earn my own money and learn the responsibility of working for a company.

I wasn't sure what I would write when I started this, but I hope this is helpful.  My Dad has a saying "What's your brand?  What do people say about you when you leave the room?"  I like to think they would say, good friend, nice, hard working, smart, great teammate, competitive, good sportsmanship.  I am not sure if these things make me different, they are just who I am.

Daniel Horigan