Stepping into his fifth-grade classroom for the first time, senior Dylan White felt that his life was going to change forever. Several months into the year, his fifth-grade teacher Andrew Ryan, who witnessed White’s athletic potential from the beginning, encouraged him to sign up for school sports. Almost a decade later, White’s passion for football and baseball still burns strongly. After an 8-year football journey, he has committed to the University of Puget Sound, joining their football team this fall as an outside linebacker.
“I love the team aspect of football,” White said. “Everyone is working together toward a common goal of scoring, meaning if you mess up, there will always be someone else that can offer support to you.”
White’s football journey first began when he started to practice flag football with his friends in fifth grade. For years, White practiced different skills and played with a team, until finally, he joined the varsity football team the summer before his sophomore year. Unfortunately, after playing his first three games of the season, he broke his thumb during an intense match and underwent surgery, where several pins were secured in place to repair his displaced fracture.
“Being injured always makes me want to get back stronger and faster,” White said. “The rehabilitation process of my injuries encourages me to stay consistent and overcome my challenges.”
Despite his injury, White’s football career continued through his junior year. However, he strained his knees multiple times during the 2022-23 season. At the end of the season, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee, which prevented him from playing football again until the fifth game of the 2023-24 season. White had to undergo extensive physical therapy. After recovery, White was able to give an outstanding performance, throwing several touchdowns as a quarterback and leading the entire team as a captain. One of the games where White was able to showcase his renewed strength was during the Homecoming game against the Monta Vista Matadors.
“This year’s homecoming game meant a lot to me since it was the first homecoming I actually played in,” White said. “Although the final result was not amazing, I was able to throw one touchdown and it was a fun experience, especially among the audience’s cheers.”
Although White was not actively looking for college recruitment opportunities, a football coach from Puget Sound reached out to him after reviewing his application, in which he indicated his interest in football. Per the coach’s request, he sent video footage of his past games. After two weeks, he received a call from the coach, who gave him an offer to join Puget Sound’s football team.
“I was really excited when I found out I got recruited,” White said. “Playing sports in college is something I have dreamed about all throughout high school and having this opportunity is very meaningful.”
White is excited to immerse into the vibrant community of Puget Sound as a pre-engineering major and hopes to continue his academic interest in mechanical engineering.
