More Than a Soccer Jersey

By Devon Liang '27

For soccer players, collegiate-level soccer requires years of dedication, early mornings, late nights, and an enormous amount of time spent on the field. There is a difficult, often stressful recruiting process that tests athletes mentally and physically and takes place behind the scenes for every commitment.

For Cate players, recruitment is understandably challenging given the many unknowns. George Marin ‘26, who committed to UChicago, says the early stages were scary, primarily because of his interactions with other players at college ID camp. Marin described this in more detail, saying, “There are 70 or 80 people every camp, and a lot of them have the quality to play.”

There are many different priorities throughout the process for athletes, but for Marin, academics at his future school remained of utmost importance. Marin stated, “I kind of want to pursue academics first,” he explained. “Soccer was important, but I want to have a good education.”

Because of Cate School's academic rigor, other Cate recruits often seek that same balance. Quincy Thorne ‘26, who committed to playing as a goalkeeper at Colorado College, highlighted that it's not just about playing soccer. “You’re not going to a school just for soccer,” Thorne said. “You’re going to a school for academics and soccer. Soccer is just a bonus.”

The role of coaches in college athletes’ experiences is significant. Thorne explained that trust and communication with coaching staff can influence an athlete’s entire college experience. “Having a good relationship with the coach was very important,” he said. “That’s the person you’re playing under, and if you don’t enjoy that relationship, you’re not going to enjoy your time.”

Kamil Abdul Nafeo ‘26 committed to Georgetown University. For him, finding the right school was at the intersection of soccer, academics, and culture. Abdul Nafeo said, “I was able to express myself fully around them.” “Having a mosque on campus convinced me fully that this was the right place for me.”

Abdul Nafeo explained that juggling school, training, and communication with college coaches is challenging. As a student-athlete, he practiced good time management, emailing coaches on school breaks and scheduling visits on weekends.

For Cate athletes, committing to college soccer is very special. Thorne described it as “a childhood dream,” while Abdul Nafeo said it “[it] gives me hope and motivation to keep chasing the next level.”

As Cate seniors continue to announce their commitments, their journeys reflect more than athletic success. They highlight resilience, self-discipline, and thoughtful decision-making—qualities that define not only strong athletes but also strong students.