Pearson Wallace (12) writes about his experiences balancing both club and high school sports.
Club for career; Perry for pride
A student-athlete's perspective
Throughout the time I have attended Perry High School, I have made the switch from playing club soccer to playing high school soccer four different times.
I have been playing club soccer for eight years, five of which were for Arizona Arsenal, a club based out of Gilbert. We have won back-to-back state championships and won many different tournaments throughout the United States.
Going from the spotlight playing at AZ Arsenal to playing for Perry’s varsity soccer team has always been hard, but I will never regret doing so.
Throughout the whole month of November, most members of our team go directly from Perry practice to club practice, some traveling all the way to Scottsdale. It takes a major toll on our bodies, but playing for Perry makes all the late nights doing homework and ice baths after playing worth it.
It is hard to keep up with school work during this period where club and high school seasons overlap, but it mimics the life a college athlete would experience every day.
The main goal for most soccer players is to play in college, and I would say the large majority of college players were recruited out of their respective club teams.
Through my club, I have had the opportunity to be scouted by several different schools and have turned down opportunities to play at Brown University, Concordia University in Wisconsin, and other schools because I have chosen to serve a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after I graduate. However, I hope to play at Brigham Young University after my two-year mission.
Even though club sports offer more college-recruitment exposure and a higher level of play, there is something amazing about representing Perry High School every year that keeps players coming back. This is my second consecutive year as team captain, and the feeling I have about this year’s team exceeds that of any other.
With a strong team overall made up of different club soccer players sacrificing their club seasons, I know the Perry Men’s Soccer team will not disappoint.