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HT: 5’9”
WT: 140
Born: 09.06.1988 in Charlotte, N.C.
Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
College: Murray State University
Qualifying Condition: Traumatic Brain Injury
Classification: CP7

COACH HOFFMAN SAYS:
"An experienced player with a very competitive playing background, Alex has the ability to become a good forward, able to hold the ball under pressure and score goals. His mentality to fight to get on the end of opportunities, athleticism and desire should provide us with a dynamic player for the next few years."

Q & A with ALEX

When did you first begin playing soccer? When I was 6 years old.

How did you join the U.S. Paralympic Team? Coach heard of me by a friend and notified me about tryouts in Los Angeles and I've been coming to camps ever since.

Who was your first soccer coach? Jeff Stephens, the Fireballs U-6 Champions! With many more consecutive years of club with him after this, our U12 year attaining Runner-up in the Kentucky State cup, the next year coming back and winning the State Cup!

What do you feel is your strength as a player? It's between my vision on the field, my passing ability, quickness/agility, its just a real big toss up.

What do you feel is your weakness as a player? My Temper! I have been known to get into it with players on opposing teams and referees alike, if I don't like the call, or something that you did to me, bad tackle or what not, then you will definitely know.

Which professional or international soccer player is your role model? Thierry Henry, he is who I look up to the most for how he handles himself off the field so well [with regards to fighting racism]. I also look up to him for his on-field performance as he is one of the most unselfish strikers to play the game of fútbol, and he still scores tons of goals! If you read this someday, Henry, just know that I really look up to you for this and keep up the good work!

What would you tell a young player to motivate them to play the game of soccer? You will not get in better shape playing in any other sport as you will in soccer. Nor will you feel as much joy from scoring a goal in any sports as much as you do from scoring in soccer.

How has playing with the team positively affected your life? Playing soccer on the United States Paralympic Soccer Team has more than positively impacted my life, it has positively and completely changed it. I remember my last soccer game in high school, and thinking to myself besides intramural games in college, and an adult league, my soccer career is over. That all changed in January of 2007 when coach Hoffman contacted me, asking if I would join the team out in Los Angeles for a training camp, in order to personally tryout for the team. And I may not have been selected to join coach on the roster for any tournament yet, but my time is coming and I firmly believe that I will not disappoint.

Which college are you attending, or graduated, if any? Murray State University

What is your area of study, or which major, or degree did you obtain? Athletic Training and Pre-Physical Therapy. I may go on into Neurology after undergrad. The brain fascinates me and I just want to keep my options open. And believe me I am at a point in my life where I can be anything I want to.

Since the team is not a full-time job, what do you do full-time? As of now, I am a full-time student at Murray State University and a part-time Residential Advisor (RA) and a part-time Athletic Training student.

What is your goal in life? What dreams do you have? What do you want to attain in life? My goal in life is to win a Gold Medal for my nation, the United States, and I will not quit playing soccer until this happens and even if it does I will probably never quit playing anyways, because I just love the sport of soccer. I eat, dream, sleep, and BREATHE this sport!

If you had enough money to do whatever you wanted to the rest of your life, what would you spend your time doing? Play soccer for the United States Paralympic team, and try to make the world a better, more hospitable place!

Which person has been the most influential and motivational in your life? My High School soccer coach Daniel Fugman!

Can you share a little bit about your family? Brothers, sisters? My family is amazing! So loving, and so supportive, they are all I could ever ask for. My parents are probably two of the best parents on this planet, and I have one sister who never, NEVER stops making me proud to be her older brother! I Love you guys with all my heart!

If you could turn back time and change one decision in your past, what would it be? Nothing, I believe everything happens for a reason and I learn from EVERY mistake/decision I make, whether it be good or bad.

If we were casting the movie of your life, which actor would you pick to play you? Easy! Elijah Wood, he looks dead on me!

If you could have one superhero power, what would it be? I love these questions! And it would totally be the power to fly!

Do you play any musical instruments? I played the trumpet in elementary/middle school, played the drums in a garage band my freshman year of high school, and am currently the vocalist in a pick-up band in college.

If you had to choose only ten CDs to listen to for the next three years, what would they be? All types of music, here are some albums/artists though:
Journey-Greatest Hits
Any Disturbed album
Avenged Sevenfold
DJ Khaled
Linkin Park-Minutes to Midnight
Liquid Tension Experiment
Trans Siberian Orchestra

Are you artistic? I'm what some would call a Renaissance man, I can do it all! I worked at a summer camp the summer of 2008 and it really helped to polish my artistic skills and creativity.

Who is your favorite artist, or favorite type of art? Do you have a favorite work of art? All of the work done during the Renaissance is amazing and I appreciate all of it!

What would you tell someone so that they had a better understanding of your disability and what it means to you? Being partially paralyzed is like a kinked water hose, but with your nerves not sending messages to your body parts slowly, like how water seeps through the hose when it is kinked.

What is your favorite quotation? My own of course! "It's not about the Destination. It's about the Journey!"

Of which accomplishments in your life (excluding soccer) are you most proud? I didn't break a single bone during my accident where I was struck by a car, flew into the air 25 feet, landed on my head without wearing a helmet, totaled the car, and didn't break one bone!