Alaina Palomaki '22 Recruiting Profile

I'm Alaina, and I absolutely love soccer.  I have been on the field ever since I was three years old, and even then, I was competitive.  Now, I am honored to have been voted one of the captains for my high school varsity team at Oshkosh West, and I play for an Elite level traveling club team called Oshkosh United.  In the fall of 2020, our United team was the Wisconsin Presidents Cup champions.

To me, there is nothing better than the sound of a ball hitting the back of the net and the celebration with your teammates when your team scores a goal.  In order to do this, a player must be able to work effectively within their team, take constructive criticism well, work hard to stay physically and mentally fit, and play with their whole heart in every game.  I believe I have all of these qualities.  I was proud to contribute with 5 goals and 4 assists to Oshkosh West's 10-4-2 season as a junior, when we advanced to the state quarterfinals.  I can't wait get back out there as a senior and see how far we can go!

My love for hard work and fitness has also been influenced by 12 years competing at a state level as a gymnast, which involved training 16-20 hours most weeks.  Fortunately, the strength I gained from gymnastics also helps me on the soccer field, where my grit and sprinting ability stand out.

This will also be my third year running cross country for my high school varsity team, which has helped my endurance.  In our most recent season we qualified for the state meet, which was a truly amazing experience.

I come from a family that celebrates academics as well as athletics.  I work hard in school not just for a high GPA, but also to grow intellectually.  My goals after high school are to pursue dual majors in college of nursing and Spanish, and then go to medical school to become an OBGYN.

I am looking forward to the college experience and all it has to offer academically, athletically, and personally.  I can't wait for the adventure to begin!