Brandon Batres '17 Recruiting Profile

In regards to soccer, without my parents I wouldn't be where I am today. They are a major influence in my life and has helped me become the athlete I am today. I became interested in soccer when I was a young boy, to be exact the 1st grade. I can remember growing up watching soccer and daydreaming of being one of the best athletes when my time came. I fell in love with the game and I would often check-out soccer books from the school library. Soccer has helped me in so many areas in my life and has kept me disciplined and grounded. My priority was keeping my grades up because I knew I were to ever fail or get out of line my ability to play my favorite sport would be taken away by my parents.
I love the intensity of soccer and the adrenaline it gives me, I started playing youth soccer when I was a young kid and then stopped, we moved to Forney, Texas from Los Angeles, California when I was in the 4th grade and my parents put me back on the field with a local team, it was one of the best things they could have done. I started off playing as a forward but I desperately wanted to play defense. When my coach tried me in the outside back position I knew for sure that was the position for me and he did to! As soon as the ball was on my feet I knew I had to react quick and quickly find a split or push up to move the ball up as soon as possible. I would never let anyone get right by pass me! Growing up playing soccer has taught me a lot about myself.
I love the feeling of winning but sometimes it’s not about winning, it about how you play the game. You will win some and you will lose some and every game may not be your best game, but you just keep pushing and doing better than you did the last time. I’ve improved my speed, my skills and game and most and foremost my academics. I work hard for what I want on and off the field. Soccer motivates me and moves me like nothing else I’ve experienced in my 17 years on earth! I am blessed to have so much support from parents, family, Church family, community, coaches and friends. I would love the opportunity to play to a higher level.