Taylor Person is a junior who plays club soccer for FC Dallas and runs track for the high school. She recently committed to the University of Oregon for soccer.
Pre-game:
Pre-game meal: Eggs, Avocado Toast, Banana and Peanut Butter
Pump-up song: Jimmy Cooks by Drake
Favorite show: Chicago P.D./ FBI
Athlete you look up to: Mallory Swanson
Post-game:
The Red Ledger: How long have you been playing soccer?
Taylor Person: I started playing when I was 7 and joined a club team when I was 9.
TRL: What made you fall in love with the sport?
TP: I love the atmosphere and the girls I got to grow up playing with. All sports truly let you escape from all your problems and stress going on in your life for a couple hours.
TRL: How was the recovery process of your torn ACL?
TP: I like to look at it as not an injury, but a blessing in disguise. It gave me a few months to revamp my love for the game and learn so much more about myself mentally and physically. I got taught the importance of recovery, what my body needs strength wise a week as an athlete, what showing up everyday can do for you, etc. I’m 13 months post op and my recovery is still going as I’m doing everything I can do to prevent my knee from having problems again.
TRL: After being injured for a year, how was your recruiting process?
TP: When my recruiting opened up I was 4 months post op and wasn’t getting a ton of interest from colleges. I was a month away from getting cleared to start non contact, so that helped me as a motivator to keep working and that my time would come once I got back to the game.
TRL: How would you describe your visit to Oregon?
TP: Everyone always says you get a feeling when you’re on campus or at a school when you know it’s the right one. That’s exactly what I felt at Oregon, and that I didn’t feel at other schools I went on visits. I knew I was home and exactly where I was supposed to be.
TRL: Why did you choose Oregon?
TP: Since I was little, Oregon has always been a dream school for me as my family was always supporting them growing up. As time went on I began to have interest in other colleges I might want to play at but Oregon was always in the back of my mind. My older brother, who’s a freshman at Oregon, decided to go there so when I went to visit him in October I got to see Eugene for the first time in a couple of years. I immediately knew this was where I wanted to be and continue my soccer career.
TRL: What are you most looking forward to playing collegiate soccer?
TP: On my visit, I got to meet the team and talk with all the staff members, and they made me feel so comfortable and like I could succeed there. I’m most looking forward to playing with my future teammates and growing as a player with my future coaches.
TRL: What is your advice to younger soccer players who dream to play at the collegiate level?
TP: Even when roadblocks come your way, it’s placed there as a learning opportunity for you to grow as a person and an athlete. If you have patience the right opportunities will come your way if you constantly work for it.
