Ariel Herter '21 Recruiting Profile

Being as a military child, I've learned to accept change and my surroundings. I've been to two countries outside of the United States for about 5.5-6 years. At first I've done gymnastics, cheerleading, and track around the age of 6. I've moved to Italy when I was in the middle of 2nd grade and left at the end of 5th grade. In that time frame, I started to play soccer between the ages of 8-9. I decided to play soccer because track hasn't started, gymnastics just ended, and I needed a sport to play. My dad mentioned soccer and I decided to start playing soccer. I'm also a fast player and became a starter due to my speed. When we were about to leave Italy, I've decided to make soccer my future.

The next destination was South Korea, a place that played futsal more than 11-vs-11 soccer. My family and I were stationed at Yongson, where it's also in Seoul, South Korea. While being stationed in Korea, we found a soccer club that was a year-long club, named KORAM. It wasn't a popular club, but it was a serious and well-established club. I've never missed a practice, no matter how cold or how hot it got. I was, and still am, determined to make my future possible. Throughout the one year and a half of KORAM, my coach taught me to use my speed more often, help me perfect my passes, shooting, my first touch, and my dribbling. Also, he taught me to defend first before attacking. 

I left Korea with a lot of confidence, determination, and support. I've moved to the states and started my 8th grade year at Scott Middle School on Fort Knox. While I was keeping an eye on my grades, I was also trying to find a good soccer club(s). I've tried out for the Atletico Flames in Elizabethtown, KY, but I found out I wasn't looking for a small club. I've tried out for another club, and in the winters there is futsal instead of outdoor soccer. The other club I've tried out for was called Futsal Factory, and I've made the team because I already have the sense of playing futsal from back in Korea. When futsal ended, I had to find another club, and a lot of the girls were on the same team, and I decided try out for the same club as them, which was called Ohio Elite. I've made the team, but there wasn't any room for me for my age group, so I was placed and I played with girls who were two years older than me. Quickly, I've became a tough player because I've went against girls who were about twice the size as me, and were stronger than me.

To add to my soccer experience, I've tried out for the U.S. National Futsal Youth I.D. State Trials in Louisville, KY in February 2017. I passed that part, and went to Nationals in July 2017 in Kansas City. Sadly, I didn't make the team, but that never stopped me.

For my academics, I've always kept my grades above a C- Now, I'm in high school as a sophomore, I keep my grades above a B-, so I can go to a good college after I graduate high school. I'm a creative student and learning something new fascinates me and my interests. Mathematics are my strongest subjects, and Language Arts is one of my weakest, but I'll always try and keep a good grade with all my classes.

I listen to my coaches and asked them after every game or practice on how I did and what I need to work on. I want to become a better player than I was a year ago, or even yesterday. For me, it feels like asking my coaches of how I played seems to be important. Knowing that my coaches are there to help with my development and have a lot more experience than me, I ask them for advice and tips on what I should do when I'm in a certain situation.

In summary, I am a smart, tough, determined, confident, and creative girl that has a dream to become a professional soccer player. I don't and will not stop at any costs because the only way for me to reach my goal is to keep going.