“From the moment I could walk, a soccer ball was at my feet. What began as simple childhood play quickly grew into my greatest source of peace, joy, and passion. By the age of three, I was already playing in a YOUTH league at the Brandywine YMCA (gO owls!) before moving on to Garnet Valley Soccer Club, where parents and coaches began to notice my natural footwork and ball control. At eight years old, I embraced a bigger challenge by joining FC Brandywine’s travel team as a right back, where my defensive strength allowed me to play up an age group—nobody could get past me one-on-one. Even with tournament wins and a championship runner-up finish, I craved more. That hunger led me to switch to offense, taking on the roles of left center midfielder and striker.

With my new FC Brandywine team, I helped secure three Delco Soccer Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018, scoring 45 goals over those seasons—an astounding 90% of our team’s total. Each milestone fueled my love for the game and built the confidence that continues to drive me forward. In middle school, I made a highly competitive team that went undefeated in our first year and lost only two games the next, proving to myself that this journey with the beautiful game was only just the beginning.” - BranDON