Abby Ballinger '24 Recruiting Profile

Hi, my name is Abby Ballinger! I started playing soccer when I was four years old, and my love for the game has only grown. In 2019, I made my club's national camp, and then I was selected for the national team. We competed at the Mayor's Cup in Las Vegas and beat the number twelve team in the country. This experience made me realize that I want to continue to play at a high level of soccer in college!

I also have also learned that to develop yourself to be a top athlete, you have to take care of your body. I am very fortunate to work with a top sports performance coach that has helped me grow stronger and faster in the gym. Currently, I hip thrust 335 pounds, and I can back squat 130 pounds. I can also do eight  chin ups with just my bodyweight. He has also helped me learn about nutrition and recovery.

Off the field, my club has also started a partnership with an organization called Athletes Helping Athletes. They help kids with disabilities exercise through sports and other activities. I helped set up and run this, and it was so rewarding to see everyone having a great time! I am also a part of PALS at my school, which pairs a high schooler with younger kids. I love being someone they can trust and look to for help as a friend! 

Finally, my favorite soccer player is Steph Houghton, who plays for Manchester City and the England National Team as a center back. I enjoy watching her play because of her style of play. She has a great vision of the field, her passing abilities are superb, and defensively, she always knows when to step in to win the ball or contain. I also love her leadership qualities. Steph is the captain for both City and England, and she is always pushing and motivating herself and her teammates to be the best they can be. She never stops fighting to win a game, and brings her teammates with her through her communication and passion. 

 Soccer has always been at the forefront of what I want to do. It has taught me friendship, teamwork, sportsmanship, hard work and so much more. It has made me who I am today, and I can not wait to find out what else soccer has to offer me!