Rhys Caplinger '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Rhys Caplinger, I am a 2023 goalkeeper for the Richmond Strikers U19 Elite team in Richmond, Virginia. I also am the starting goalkeeper for the varsity soccer team at Glen Allen High School of which I made the team as a Freshman.   This year, in my junior year, I was selected 1st team All Region as the GK.  This season, our team outscored our opponents 68-8.  In 18 games, I had 9 shutouts, 184 saves, equating to a 96% save rate.   

I am a 4.3 GPA student currently taking four AP courses, community volunteer, and extremely hard working athlete.   

My strengths as a goalie are to command and organize my defense to ensure proper spacing and positioning, my agility, reflexes, positioning, as well as, my aggressiveness in 1v1 situations.  I am a team player that is accustomed to playing in dynamic environments, hardworking, and coachable.

Please see the link below to my short highlight video from the Fall 2021-Spring 2022 seasons, which highlights my command of the defense, agility, reflexes, 1v1, distribution, decision making, and positioning.    

https://youtu.be/G3tcqrwDJsM

Below are links to my last two games of my high school season, in which I play for Glen Allen and am in Neon Yellow.

6/8/22 Loss - Glen Allen at Briar Woods 
(State quarterfinals) 0-1
Intros:  https://youtu.be/7ItoIaUb3Ck
1H:  https://youtu.be/KID6HeRTdd4
2H:  https://youtu.be/iY67JVZoB3w
Goal: 2H 10:15
Great GK stops: All game long

5/31/2022 Win Glen Allen  W vs Midlothian
(Regional semi-finals) 1-0
Intros: https://youtu.be/CC_qkJI0DPo
1H1: https://youtu.be/sCfotfM2fv4
1H2:  https://youtu.be/_V43_-2InzQ
2H:  https://youtu.be/HTX5S_yAjA0
Goals: 1H 6:45
GK saves: 1H2: 17:45, 2H 7:15, 21:35, 40:10

In June of 2020 I tore my ACL but was misdiagnosed with an LCL sprain. I continued with the recommended physical therapy and played in two College ID Camps. After the continuation of extreme pain in my knee, I got an MRI that showed I not only tore my ACL, but also tore my meniscus in two places and strained multiple ligaments in my knee. I had surgery in September 2020 and was cleared in 8 months due to my hard work and determination of going to physical therapy 3 days a week before school at 5AM, as well as, working out and conditioning on my own. On the day that I was cleared, Coach Baber started me in my first varsity game back, in which we won 3-0.  Throughout the rest of the regular season and through playoffs, I continued to practice and start in the Varsity games 5 days a week after school, continued strength and conditioning at PT 3 days a week from 5-7AM, all the while maintaining a 4.3 GPA.   

In the fall 2021 travel season, I continued to workout at PT 2 days a week in the morning prior to school, practice in three Striker Team practices, and two Goalie specific practices each week.   

I have dedicated the last 5 years of goalie training with nationally renowned GK Coach Celia Moser and my academic career to ensure that I have both the skills and academics to play on your team.  I would like to attend college to not only continue my athletic career, but to also study Biology.

 I would like to be considered as a GK for your 2023 class.   Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,

Rhys Caplinger

8045170587