Isabel Hyman '22 Recruiting Profile

Hi! I am Isabel (Izzy) Hyman and I have been playing soccer for nearly 13 years. As a player, I am fast and intelligent with my decisions. I am always looking for the best pass, even if it is a negative pass. As a forward, I like to be the bumper for my team to play off of and make the runs behind the defensive line to attack the goal. 

I was accepted onto a Development Academy team for all 3 years of its existence. In the last year, our coach Dido Tshimanga advanced us to the oldest group- in which we played individuals 2-3 years older than ourselves. 

I have learned split-second problem solving and time management that are necessary for soccer through my rigorous high school course work.  Currently have a weighted GPA of 4.688 and, with the completion of this semester, will have 9 APs under my belt. Seeing as how I am a part of the Highly Gifted program at my school, the academic rigor is intense, numerous, and time-consuming. I am also the clarinet section leader in my high school’s marching band, which has proven to consume a lot of time. With 4 to 5 soccer practices a week, after-school band twice a week, the stress of making sure the clarinet section does their work, and homework, my time management has become crucial. Another benefit of being in the Highly Gifted Magnet is that the intense analytical thinking that is part of the curriculum transfers directly into the game of soccer. I am able to anticipate plays based on patterns, just like you might find in an article or book, and I can quickly resolve problems after years of timed and stressful AP tests. 

Soccer is an outlet to connect with my community. Before COVID-19 hit, I was ecstatic for a volunteer opportunity I received; I planned to help organize, coach, or be the referee in pick-up games for underprivileged children. I was so incredibly excited to help because I wanted to spread the joy that soccer is capable of bringing. 

Ankle surgery to repair my peroneal tendon in early 2019  shifted my training from fieldwork to intense and targeted muscle development, analysis of team play, and developing coaching and leadership skills. I spent my time learning and coaching my team, as well as helping them with technical skills and decision-making. I gained leadership skills and tactical knowledge at an exponential level. While previously I could mainly support the team on the field, I have now learned a more holistic approach to team participation. 

The frustration I feel when a game doesn’t go the way I want it to, has fueled me in my recovery; I have transformed into a much more aggressive player than I was before. My goal for the next couple of months in the final stage of my recovery is to become the player I desire to be -- fast, aggressive, technical, and smart. (And college-ready.)