Marissa Kelberman '16 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing soccer since I was 5 years old, and when I was U11 I began playing club soccer. My main goals for college are to get into a school where I can study pre-law and also play competitive soccer. At a young age, I began to watch collegiate teams as well as professional teams and my love for the sport grew, and I knew that college soccer was something that I wanted to pursue as a long term goal. Also, many of my youth soccer coaches inspired me to be as determined and hardworking as I am today. One of my first youth coaches would cheer me on, even when I scored in my own goal. I have found that you develop a love for the game early on, and I have even started to coach younger town teams, hoping that their love for the game will grow as well.  I helped coach a girls U12 town team this year and I learned as much from the girls on the team as they did from me.  It is really great to watch them develop throughout the season and they are always so eager to listen and try and improve their game.  I was really humbled on one occasion when the other team’s coach made a comment and asked me if I was even old enough to be coaching.  All my girls stood next to me and defended me by telling the coach that I may look young but I am the best coach they have ever had!!!   

I have won state cup my U13 year of club and traveled abroad to play soccer in Denmark and Sweden in my U14 year.  We were State Cup semifinalists for 2013 & 2014  and I have played in the Region1 league.  I currently play on the FC Stars NPL GU17 team as a Center Back.  

In High School, I was on the Varsity soccer team my sophomore and junior years.  I have learned a lot from my team mates and enjoyed playing with them.  In my sophomore year, I was able to play several positions on the team and I started as an Outside Midfielder, Center Back and Outside Back.  In my junior year, I was one of 2 starting Center Backs on the team.  My team made it all the way to the State Semifinals and we had a great season.  I will miss the seniors who are graduating this year.  I was nominated to the All Star Central MA D1 team and I was also nominated to be one of the team captains for our Varsity team Fall 2015.  I feel very fortunate to be able to play with such a great set of team mates both on and off the field.

In school I know that it is extremely important to push myself academically by taking honors classes and keeping on the honor roll each quarter. With all of the traveling and playing that I do, I have to maintain a very tight schedule from school, to practice, to games, and even to strength and conditioning classes. My schedule is always very tight, but soccer has helped to teach me how to budget my time effectively. I excel in History and Math, and received awards for my Algebra and Understanding the 1960s class.

I love participating in 5Ks and other athletic fund raisers.  I ran the Climb For Air in Boston last year and I came in first in my age group and I have also successfully completed the Spartan Race last summer in Amesbury, MA. 

I am really looking forward to playing at showcases and continuing with my college search this year!