Quest Alumni DiariesSteve Tyler Rhyne
Biography Information The Quest prepared me for the next level with coaches that always were asking more from me and my team. They got me ready by taking me to big tournaments such as the Dallas Cup, Tampa Sun Bowl, and many regional events. One of the only ways I feel you can get better as a player is day in day out playing against top players and that is what the United Quest offered me. They got me playing the ball faster and thinking game like situations on my own and not having a coach scream out what to do all the time. Speed of play is one of the biggest things that changes here at the next level and I haven't skipped a beat because we worked on that plenty with the Quest. Here at Clemson, I play with a well rounded team that comes from all parts of the world. We have a players from Sweden, Brasil, and Trinidad and Tobago as well as all over the U.S. The team chemistry still stays strong coming from good team leadership which is a very important part of success in the game of soccer. I have played with Mark Lisi who got drafted third in the MLS superdraft and has scored four goals now for DC United. It was really a luxury to be able to see him practice everyday and how he got ready for games because he is professional about everything he does. One of the reasons Lisi is so successful is because he is the most competitive person I have ever met. That is very important to bring that competitiveness to practice day in day out because it makes others around you competitive as well. Since high school graduation, I have hit the weight room hard getting stronger and faster by doing a lot of agility work that pays off big time when you get on the soccer field. Too many people think soccer is a sport where you don't have to get in the weight room but that is where players pick up ground on the rest of the players. Also, I have worked on keeping the ball close to my body whenever I am possessing it because at this level defenders are too good and will take it from you if it is not right on your foot. I believe that my shot is a lot more accurate and powerful from many days of taking out the balls and striking thirty or fifty balls on target, which is very important because if you can't hit the target you have no chance of scoring goals. It is suprising to see the number of goals that are scored off rebounds or deflections. I chose Clemson because they have a long tradition of being one of the top soccer programs every year and I felt like I could help them defend that name and hopefully take them back up to the top before I leave here. I like to be around my hometown so I can have the support of my family as well as my coaches in the past and so they can follow up on me easily. I think I could not be happier anywhere else in the nation. I am on a partial athletic scholarship as well as getting tons of free gear! My favorite player to watch is Thierry Henry of Arsenal out of England. The way he just has an ability to score goals however and whenever he wants amazes me and he is a very enjoyable player to watch. A qoute I found from him says, "It doesn't matter how it goes in; whether you score a great goal or if it bounces off your nose, a goal is a goal." I found that to be a great statement to play by to just get the job done however possible. Best of luck to all and keep on playing! Filippo Chillemi
Biography Information Quest prepared me very well both on and off the field for the college level. Off the field, the club taught me how to be responsible. This is very important when it comes to school work because parents aren't here to make sure homework and studying gets done. On the field, Quest has helped me become a competative player. Quest taught me knowledge of the game, and gave me my fundamental skills. They also taught me to love the game as they do. My teammates are all amazing. We are basically like family, and I know that I can go to them for anything. I have played with at least half the team in prior functions, be it club, state, regional, or national events. Also, we have a couple of foreign players on the team. They are very good, and teach us aspects about the game from a European viewpoint. Since high school, I have become a more physical player. In all other levels of soccer that I have played, ball skills are what made players great. In college, this is not true. Great players are the individuals that are mentally tough. The ones that get stuck in for every tackle and have that "killer" attitude. Also, college soccer is a lot quicker since you are playing with older players. Players must be in great shape because you run more due to the style of play. Most teams don't play possesion soccer, like the Brazilians, rather high-tempo direct soccer, like the English. It is hard to adjust to if you come from a skillful, ball holding team. My school is one of the best schools in the country and a degree from here will look good when I apply into med school. Also, the socecr program is good, and it should win a national title sometime soon. The campus is also gorgeous and the people are very nice. I was able to receive a full athletic scholarship. We have a new coaching staff. Bobby Clark is the head coach. He is very good and has a lot of experience with soccer. He has played at all the levels, from pro to world cup and is a great teacher of the game. The rest of the coaching staff (Mike Avery and Brian Wiese) are also good. They also have played in the pros and teach a lot to the team. Whenever I am not playing, I'm studying. My major is very demanding, so I need to put a lot of time into it. Athletes at my school also get free tutors, and I take advantage of this. I meet with all my tutors once a week. I also bring all my books with me on the road, and I set time aside while traveling to study. A great place to get reading done is on the airplane! It is more difficult than I anticipated. I thought it would be easy since high school was easy. My favorite player right now is Manuel Rui Costa. He is a center midfielder for AC Milan, and technically and tactically I think he is one of the best players in Seria A. The most important thing that brought me to this level was my desire to learn the game and play as much as possible. Chris Austin
Biography Information I am a 5'8" teenager that played soccer at United Quest for six years before college. When looking for schools, I tried to find one that not only was a great soccer school, but a great school overall. I wanted a place where the team was close. The University of Kentucky has pretty much everything I looked for. The team here, for the most part, is real close. The guys are great, and the people I hang out with. The team was really unknown. Many people in the south never really hear about us. We do not play in the south much because our conference is the Mid-American Conference. The program is only about 11 years old. The University of Kentucky is a huge sports school. I really looked for something like that. I love sports and to be around them. The school is also a big school. I wanted a place where you can meet new people pretty much all four years you are here. Overall the school was a perfect fit. I love it here. It is real hard for most people when they come to college to do well both academically and athletically. Especially in soccer because you miss a lot of class and the season is in the fall. You do not get a chance to get accustomed to college life. I however did not find it to be that difficult. All the teachers will work with you and sports are a great way to meet your teachers. It gives you an excuse to go talk to them and get to know them. Most will work with you and help you get your assignments made up. Also, the key to college is going to class. If you show up and pay attention, you will do well. Then, just study for the tests and keep up. You should do fine. United has help me with the next level by the players I trained with and the atmosphere. Many of the drills in college are very similar to the ones at United. Also the coaching was very well done. What helped a lot is the caliber of players I played with. Training with them just makes you a better player and more prepared. Also, the training sessions make you a better player. My overall game has improved since college in several areas. The major thing that has improved is my speed of play. My decision making has had to improve. I have also become better on the ball and in tight spaces under pressure. My left foot has improved dramatically since high school. Overall, the everyday training and intense atmosphere of college has developed my overall game. I have also become a smarter player and understand the game better. The coaching staff here is very different to what I was use to at United. Our head coach here is intense. He loves the game and would do anything to win. He also has this drive to be the best that is unbelievable. He is very active in our training and games. He runs all the sessions and strives for the most out of us. He wants everyone to have that desire he has and he understands the game very well. He is English so he loves the English style. He is also hard to read at times. He has no problem laying into you though, but that is something just to test you and make you stronger. They have a motive here of what happens on the field stays on the field. After practice, everything is over between everyone. You make up and do not let what happens affect your day. Our two coaches assistants are the calm ones. They are the ones you go and talk to when you have problems during a game or practice. You go and talk to coach in his office. The other two work with the goal keepers and work some parts of training. My favorite player in the world would have to be Zinedine Zidane. The reason is he is so relaxed when he plays. He has the same expression all the time. He is very good on the ball and very dangerous. He is also one of the best players in the world. He makes things happen and is very calm while doing it. Overall, he is just a great player. He can do it all and does a great job doing it. Jon Scragg
Biography Information 1) How has Quest prepared you for the next level? THE LEVEL OF PLAY HAS HELPED ME GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL. MY SUROUNDINGS WITH COACHES AND PLAYERs THAT WERE BETTER THAN ME WERE THE FACTORS. 2) How has your game improved/changed since high school graduation? I HAVE HAD TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN LEADING THE TEAM. WORKING HARD FOR EVERYTHING ON THE FIELD. HAVING TO BE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE ALSO. 3) How and why did you choose your college? I CHOSE MY COLLEGE BEACAUSE THEY ARE GOOD AND THE GUYS ARE COOL TO BE AROUND. 4) Are you on athletic or academic? ATHLETIC 5) Tell us about your coach and the staff. WE HAVE THREE COACHES AND THEY ALL ARE FUN TO BE AROUND. 6) How do you balance soccer and academics? Is it more difficult than you anticipated? YES, IT IS ALWAYS TOUGHT TO HANDLE SPORTS AND SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME.
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