How old were you when you first started playing, who taught you to play and who most influenced your development as a young player?
I started in AYSO soccer when I was six but I started playing travel soccer when I was eight. I started playing goalie when I moved that U-8 travel team (Skomor Jr. Strikers). My dad really influenced my development along with my coaches, Jaime Villamil and my Fire Juniors coach Paul Cadwell.

What's been the single best moment of your soccer career thus far, at any level of competition?
Last year my Fire Juniors team won the state championship and I thought I had a very good game. My team scored two goals and I kept the shutout. It was the first time we won a state championship and the best part about it was that we played Sockers FC.

What are your long-term goals in the sport?
I definitely want to play professionally either for the Chicago Fire or for an English Premier League team. Before that, I want to play college soccer at a good school with very good academics. Hopefully my soccer can pay my way through college.

What has been the most valuable aspect of being trained by the Academy coaches?
For me as a goalie, the most important aspect is having a goalkeeper coach at every practice. Markus is always correcting us and making us better even when we are doing a drill with the field players.

What has training with the Academy taught you about yourself as a player and where do you need improvement?
Training with the Academy has taught me to focus on the every day things and I can improve on those things, too. It has also taught me that what you give you get. All of the hard work that I put in will definitely help me.

What is the most difficult part of training with the Academy?
When we do fitness or Insanity I try to push myself but some times it is really difficult. When we do this I know that what I put in I will get out and that will help me with my soccer performance.

Does the training differ from past training you've had, and in what way?
The amount of training and the intensity definitely differs from my past training. Having a goalkeeper coach at every practice is something I've never had before. I definitely prefer this because I need the most practice I can have so I improve the most that I can.

Which of your Academy teammates impresses you the most and why?
I think David Caban impresses me the most because he works hard at practice and shows great leadership. He also has incredible skill and has been improving. He just makes a good role model for the rest of the team.

Which of the other U-16 or U-18 Academy players impresses you and why?
I think Trevor Wheeler impresses me the most because of his skill and leadership. From when I've played with him and seen him play it looks like he controls the game and organizes his team. He is definitely an asset to the U-18's squad. Charlie Lyon also impresses me a lot because he's the goalie I look up to and is my role model.