Formative Years on the Field and in the Classroom
When the bell rang for the first time in the fall of 2010, a small group of teenagers walked into the historic brick building that houses Saint Stephens Episcopal School in Bradenton, Florida, carrying more than textbooks — they carried dreams of soccer glory.
Among them were future U.S. Men’s National Team stalwarts such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Alejandro Zendejas, Tyler Adams and Haji Wright, who spent their early teenage years balancing rigorous academics with intensive training on the pitch.
Teachers recall loading the boys onto vans for Saturday morning matches, cheering them from the stands, and later gathering at local diners on Friday nights to celebrate milestones, all while encouraging them to think beyond the game.
Ellen Orr, Cindy Addison, and Ted Allen, who taught the cohort across subjects ranging from English to history, say the players’ hunger to improve was matched only by their humility, a combination that left a lasting impression on the school community.
Now, as those youngsters prepare for World Cup campaigns and professional contracts, the educators express quiet pride, noting that the classroom walls were as much a training ground for character as they were for tactics.