Caleb VanBlankenstein '16 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing soccer for the past 11 years and have been a goalkeeper since the beginning.  I have learned that playing goalkeeper is so much more than just making the save.  It is understanding the flow of the game so that you know where to be at all times. In addition to the skills needed to play keeper, my main strength is my understanding of the game and controlling the game from my position in the back.  I am the leader of the team and my role is to direct the other players so that we play as a unit.

I am looking for a college where I can not only use my athletic skills, but also where I can get a quality education that can benefit me the rest of my life. 

This last summer, my club team won the National President's Cup tournament in South Carolina and I was named the Outstanding Goalkeeper.  In the Region IV Finals, the game went to penalty kicks and I saved three consecutive shots to win the game. 

This year I have had the pleasure of working with Special Needs students at my school, which has been an eye-opening experience for me.  Despite their challenges, I am finding that I learn as much from them as they do from me.  I'm finding that life is so much more than thinking about yourself and that true joy comes from helping others.