Annika Shula '20 Recruiting Profile

I have loved sports since I was a young girl. I seemed to have a natural ability whether it was horseback riding, diving, swimming, tennis, soccer or gymnastics. But the only sport I played consistently through my years (club since I was 5 and school since 7th grade) was soccer. It really wasn't until my sophomore year that I decided that soccer would be "my" sport. As a freshman I was a starter on the varsity team. My sophomore year I was asked to join a club team called Montgomery United. I went out to practice with this team but was recruited by a coach, who played professionally, to the Montgomery United Elite travel team. I joined the team in November and we took it all the way to Nationals by July with only 12 players. My position changed from predominantly a wing player to center midfielder and that is where I discovered I belong. My strength is in distributing the ball and being able to put it on the foot of my teammates to get them into a scoring position. The elite club experience has made me realize that I have not yet reached my full potential and I can't wait to see how my future self will play.

Academically, I am a good student but there is certainly room for improvement. I feel that my junior year is big in that not only do I need excel in soccer but I need to improve academically and am proud to say that I am looking at all A's and B's this semester.

I am excited to play soccer in college and I'm looking for a school that is innovative and diverse. I am undecided in what direction I'd like to go academically but I am interested in Environmental Conservation or a career in the sports world like sports broadcasting. What I have discovered about myself this year is that if I put my mind to something I can accomplish my goal. Henry Ford said "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right." I think I can be a successful college student-athlete.