Brian Ballard '19 Recruiting Profile

Soccer has been a big part of my life ever since I can remember. I was first exposed to the game at the age of 4.  My team was the Terminix Tigers, and as I recall, we were good.  I shined as a young player often scoring multiple goals in a game.  I was fast and I was strong.  The game strategy, as I understood it at the time was be first to the ball, out-run the opponent and go in for the score.  While this tactic yielded early success and did wonders for my confidence, I came to realize there is so much more to the game. Nonetheless, that was where I developed a strong interest and excitement for the game. 

I went on to play multiple sports throughout my elementary and middle school years. While I enjoyed playing other sports, they did not draw out the the same level of enthusiasm that I experienced on the soccer field. I began playing club soccer around the age of 10 and over the following years I developed into a more technically skilled player with a keen sense of the game and a passion for the sport. Impacting my life greatly, playing soccer has aided in my development and continued maturation athletically, mentally and emotionally shaping me as an individual.  I am a disciplined, dedicated and determined individual always striving to improve and realizing I can always do and be better.  I'm a 7 year veteran of Division I soccer and a 3 time returning player in Dr. Pepper's Dallas Cup Tournament. Over the past few years, I  have played in high performance competitive soccer leagues including  the National Premier League, Southern Regional Premier League and National League with my club team. 

In addition to soccer, school is also a significant part of my life. I am in my junior year, enjoying my high school experience both socially and academically.  I am very serious about my education rising to the challenge of more rigorous coursework and striving for academic excellence. I am currently on track for distinguished level of academic achievement recognition in addition to working towards, multidisciplinary, STEM and architecture business industry endorsements upon high school graduation. College is definitely in my future and I hope to have the privilege of continuing my soccer career playing at the college level. 

While soccer and school have been major parts of my life thus far, the impact of family has played a far greater role in shaping me. We are very close as a family. I seek my family's opinions and value the input of my parents, grandparents, extended family and on occasion, even my younger sister.  I especially look to my parents as positive role models to emulate in character, ambition, and values.  Without them I would not be who I am today. I am very a focused individual with plans of staying the course to success academically, athletically, and as a person in all that I endeavor in life.