Rylee Blanchard '21 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing soccer since I was six years old.  I played year round, in San Diego until I turned eleven.  Then my family moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho to be closer to family.  I played with Ballistic Soccer Club travel team each spring, I have player as an outside back but my primary position is goalie. I started playing in goal my 8th grade year and have been there ever since.  I enjoy the intensity of the game and the teamwork involved in getting the job done. I have always maintained a 3.3 or higher GPA even during the season. I have taken several college courses through my high school and online to get ahead in my learning. I want to go to school to become a physical therapist and help athletes get back on the road to recovery. My freshman year of high school, I had shoulder surgery and the surgeon told me I may never be able to play in goal again. I had to get the surgery, as the day to day pain was too much to handle. Following my surgery, my physical therapist asked me about my therapy goal. I told him I wanted to get back in the goal and play. We worked diligently and eleven weeks after surgery, I was playing again. I want other athletes in that same position to feel the joy of getting back to their sport. Nothing is better than beating the odds.