2021 Scholarship Winners

The Fond du Lac Soccer Association (FDLSA) recently awarded the $250 2021 scholarship to graduating Senior Braden Gerritson (Fond du Lac High School).  Eligibility for this scholarship requires having played on a FDLSA team for four or more years, a criterion easily met.  Braden, a 4.0 student, has participated in the Fond du Lac Soccer Rec and Select programs, has served as a referee, as well as a volunteer coach over the years. He will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall of 2021 seeking a double major in Actuarial Science and Mathematics.

From Braden Gerritson:

How soccer as helped him as an individual:

“Soccer has helped me in several ways and molded me into the person I am today. As I look around today, a lot of my friendships have originated from soccer. Whether it be new ones from this high school season or old ones from Dave's travel team, the majority of my good friends have stemmed from a common interest in soccer. Soccer has taught me life lessons that I will retain for the rest of my life. I learned how to be respectful to others, be responsible, be a team player, be a leader, and be positive. I learned how to be an exceptional man. I have also been a ref for several years now, recreational and travel, and this different perspective has helped shine some light onto my life. Being a soccer referee has taught me how to be independent, powerful, demanding, and strong. I have had my fair share of troubled parents, coaches, and players, and I'm quite glad of the opportunities these incidents provide me. Although I don't enjoy getting yelled at, these situations have molded me into a much stronger individual who can stand up for themselves.”

Advice he would provide young soccer players:

“Enjoy it while it lasts. I just recently finished my soccer career and I got hit with the realization that I would no longer be playing competitive soccer with my friends and teammates that I have grown up with. Although I played for over 10 years, soccer has blown away within a blink of an eye. I am going to truly miss grinding and enjoying time with my teammates on and off the field. I would recommend sticking with soccer. I was faced with choosing football or soccer while I was in middle school. It was a hard choice for me because, at the time, all of my friends were choosing football and I didn't want to be left out; however, I ended up choosing soccer because I liked the community much more and believed it was much more challenging and skillful. This decision was one of the best in my life and I am very fortunate that I have stuck with it. Soccer is much more than a sport. You build friendships, belong to a community, learn life lessons, and develop into a young adult. I will forever be grateful for this amazing community that I entered, and plan on remaining a part of, as a young child.”

The FDLSA wishes Braden, other scholarship applicants, and all graduating Senior players good luck in the years ahead. We hope to see you continue to play on our Adult League and participate at the complex for years to come!