“I have been learning from Coach Ric for most of my life and there has never been a time when he hasn’t made me a better player or person. I first started training with Coach Ric when I joined his Gryphons 98G White team at 7 years old. He taught me how to take a good first touch, how to juggle, and how to make an accurate pass. Above all else, though, it was under his tutelage that I fell in love with the game. Without Coach Ric, there is no State Cup Championships, no University of Washington, no professional soccer, no World Cup. He’s been with me at every step of my career, celebrating my successes and guiding me through the tough times. Any chance I get, I train with him; he helps me refine my strengths and he gives me tools to make me better. His passion and understanding of the game are second to none, and if I had a do-over, I would choose him as my mentor every single time.”
