Senior Captain Benjamin Sollom Kicks Back and Remembers His Soccer Journey

SEATTLE- Senior Benjamin Sollom has been through a lot in his career and when he was six he made a decision that changed his athletic life forever.

“I started playing soccer since I was six years old and started playing goalkeeper at eight years old, funnily enough I wanted to play football, but my mom would not allow it so I decided to play a sport that what was most physical instead,” said Sollom.

Sollom has been playing soccer for all 4 years at O’Dea and throughout his childhood but sticking to the same sport for so long isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Sollom has had many great coaches and mentors in his career, and it has taught him to overcome many obstacles.

“My family inspires me to play soccer because my brother played striker and I wanted to play goalkeeper so I tried to do everything opposite that he did. My family are now my biggest supporters, so I work hard every day to put a smile on their faces because it’s my way of giving back to them,” says Sollom.

As Sollom’s career continued, he has played for multiple teams some standout teams he played for were the Washington state Elite Player Development team, O’Dea varsity team, and the Eastside FC B05 ECNL Club.

Out of all the teams he played for Sollom has enjoyed playing at O’Dea High School with all of his brothers for the past four years and in those years he has created a special bond that not many teams can compare to. Sollom is now the team Captain and has been leading his team to another winning season.

“I enjoy the brotherhood and the environment of the team. Being able to workday in and day out with some of my closest friends has been amazing. When it comes to passing each other in the halls, working hard on the field, and winning games togther it will definitely be something I will miss.”

With the Irish closing in on another successful season they will have to prepare for talented teams such as Ballard and Garfield in the postseason to have another memorable season like last year when they had placed 4th in State.

Sollom has taken the spot as a team captain and has been pushing his teammates to become the best athelte they can be to become successful.

“The team this season has had some very unfortunate injuries. I have to inspire the boys to keep pushing and to be an example each game to keep putting the work in. Hopefully by seeing my hard work I have inspired the other boys to put the work in as well. Being a captain too means that I must encompass what this program is. I have to be the role model of work ethic and attitude that my teammates can look up to and develop into,” says Sollom.

The Irish are ready to take on their next opponent in winning fashion and Sollom has focused on the team morale, cleaning up simple mistakes on the field, and simply beliving they can have a huge state run and achieve anything to prove their doubters wrong.

Sollom will be going to Notre Dame and will study Biological Sciences and end his competitive soccer career