Lucas Lightner '19 Recruiting Profile

I started playing travel soccer when my brother was asked to tryout for a travel team.  His team practiced at the same location and one hour later than my rec team.  After I finished my practice, I would beg the coach to let me practice with the travel team.  I had double practice that fall in the spring, I was asked to join the team.  I knew I had work to do.  The coach told me it would be a good idea to play rec for a couple more years but I knew I could do it.  I worked hard.  I went to every practice and found my mentor, Amilcar Castro, who trained me on foot skills and ball handling.  I quickly became one of the best players on our team. 

The team was a local team in Clarksville.  I knew I had to do more if I wanted to get better. I trained all summer and I tried out for the top three teams in the Nashville area.  I received offers from all three but I decided to play D1 with Coach Earle Davidson at Tennessee Soccer Club.  My parents told me if I could make the team, they would make the sacrifice to drive 160 three times a week plus travel on weekends.  The only condition was I could not let me grades suffer and I could not complain.  They said the day I stopped loving it and working hard was the day we parked the car.  

Really, I am no different from any kid who loves soccer but I am a different player.  I am a student of the game.  I analyze every aspect to build better field vision.  I work on speed.  I work on physical and mental strength.  I work on being a better player.  My coaches have taught me to be humble and to give back to the sport.  Soccer for me will be a lifetime sport.  I am going as far as I can go and I am looking for the best opportunity to get there.