Arthur Mendoca

Grade: 8

Started with SA in: 6(mid-year)

Future plans: “I really want to be an athlete, but if that doesn’t work out, I’d like to be a lawyer.”

Role model: “I don’t really have one. I’m hard on myself and push myself to do my best.”

Favorite thing about SA: “The community. Everyone is so nice and welcoming.”

Spotlight: Arthur has been playing soccer since he was 5 or 6 years old, following in the footsteps of his older brother (Lucas, Grade 12). He currently plays with the Beadling Soccer Club as part of the MLS (Major League Soccer) Next League. He was invited to a practice in Columbus, Ohio, on October 19 with the U.S. Youth National Team (YNT) Regional Identification Center, an organization working to build the YNT player pool across the country. The practice was designed to gather the region’s top talents so YNT coaches could observe the players in a highly competitive session replicating the YNT environment and conditions. Arthur believes the experience went well even though he was asked to play an unfamiliar position during the second half of the session. He has been invited to participate in another practice in January 2023. Arthur enjoys soccer because “it’s a great way to interact with other people, it relieves stress, and it’s fun.” He hopes that in a few years he will be called to play in a youth professional league, eventually leading to a career as a professional athlete.