Tyler’s academic interests: What will he be majoring in at Princeton? What drew him to this field of study?
Tyler will be majoring in Computer Science, while minoring in Finance. Ever since he was little, he played video games with his brothers and friends. As he grew older he started to make them also! This led to him learning how to make games and code which drew him to the field of computer science.
Future goals: Beyond Princeton, what are Tyler’s long-term goals? Does he aspire to play soccer professionally, or does he have other career plans in mind?
Tyler’s long-term goals include playing professionally. Tyler has always strived to play at the highest level possible and dreams of playing professionally. He has pushed himself on and off the field.
However, he is content with pursuing a tech career after college, which is in part why he chose to go to Princeton, to be able to perform at a high-tech company after graduation.
Soccer journey: What challenges did Tyler face as he worked his way to the top? You mentioned school and club changes—could you share more about those experiences and the sacrifices he made along the way?
Tyler faced the challenges of prioritizing soccer over other things a kid would love to have. In 5th grade, he chose to leave his local club to play with Campton United Academy, leaving all his friends behind and having to drive farther every day, but he knew this sacrifice would only bring him success. Several years later he made the difficult decision to leave Campton and his new friends to try out for Sockers FC. Leaving Campton and joining Sockers FC added two extra hours in the car daily.
Changing clubs wasn’t easy. Tyler joined Sockers Club and worked very hard eventually landing him a starting position on the their top MLS Next team.
Amongst year long soccer he continued to play and start for his DHS varsity basketball until Junior year. He loved basketball, but not as much as soccer, so he had to give it up to focus on soccer to be able to perform at high level soccer.
Choosing Princeton: Why did Tyler choose Princeton specifically? Was it for its academic reputation, its soccer program, or a combination of factors?
Tyler had several options; however he chose Princeton because of the school visit. The deciding factor was the connection he felt with the Princeton coaches. Early on the coaches showed interest and stayed connected with him, the extra time they spent with him during the visit made the difference. In addition, the academic reputation and the soccer program coincide in the decision because they have a great soccer team with wonderful coaches, but on top of that, he is going to one of the most prestigious schools in the world. It was definitely a combination both factors.
Personal reflections: How does Tyler feel about achieving this milestone after all his hard work? How has his support system (family, coaches, teachers) contributed to his success?
Tyler feels very happy. He can go to his dream school and play on the soccer team which is what he was working towards. Also, he is glad the recruiting process is finally over and he can focus on working to prepare himself for Princeton.
His support system was the foundation of his success. His parents always believed in him and would happily drive him to practice, games, etc. Also, they provided him with whatever resources were necessary, including club, extra training, and gym membership. His brothers contributed to his success as well. Tyler learned from watching their games and used it as a motivation to be the best he could be. His brothers continue to encourage him and support his efforts. Finally, his coaches shaped him into the player he is. Hard working and resilient is the way he plays on the field and this was made through the Sockers coaching staff.
Fun Facts About Tyler
There are some things about Tyler that go beyond his academic and athletic achievements that you may find interesting. His father played baseball for UW Madison and later for the Phillies’ Minor League team, while his older brother TJ played collegiate soccer at DePaul University.
Tyler’s drive for academic excellence showed up early. As a 4th grader, he chose to attend St. Mary’s because he felt like he wasn’t being challenged enough. He returned to CRMS in 6th grade to take advantage of advanced classes, even though it meant giving up some diversity. At DHS, Tyler has consistently been at the top of his class, maxing out all of the available AP and Computer Science courses. What’s remarkable is that Tyler has always made these decisions on his own, whether it was selecting classes or switching clubs—his parents never had to push him.
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story