Sami Benge-Kulzer '23 Recruiting Profile

I've grown up with a loving and supportive family around me. At the age of two I started playing soccer for Soccer Buddies, a local club, and since then I have played for school and club. My freshman year of soccer was cancelled right after tryouts due to COVID. I was extremely upset as it was my first high school season, and I made Varsity. Sophomore year, though very complicated, we were able to have a late season. We won our league and made it to State, we lost in the first round of playoffs to Aspen. However, my junior year we got a second chance and won against Aspen in the second round of playoffs but lost in the great 8 to the team who ended up winning the championship. Although that loss was disappointing, the knowledge, experience and relationships I gained will stay with me for a long time. During my sophomore and junior years on the varsity basketball team, we also had a disappointing loss in the first round of State playoffs. Even though those seasons didn't end the way I had hoped, the sense of family I had found within just a few short months of both seasons with these girls made losing always seem small compared to the experiences I shared with them.  Now going into my senior year, I am hoping to go even further in both sports.

Through playing sports, I have learned patience and how to work through challenges by myself and with teammates.  I'm focused and working to improve on my mental path, dedicated to progress in any way I can. I am aware of the feelings and needs of those around me, not just in the game, but in my personal life. I tend to support and offer my time to those in need. On the field I see the plays and predict the course of action to succeed. I am good at making runs with and without the ball and I have a good strong power shot. I am a hard worker, tough and coachable. I like to know the "why" behind almost anything. I love soccer very much and am very committed to the sport as well as my academics and would love to continue playing past my high school and club career at a college that is right for me. This next year I intend to work on increasing my GPA from a 3.874 to a 4.0. Being able to manage your time effectively to get good grades and to succeed in sports is important to me because it shows my skills, dedication, responsibility and work ethic.