Beyond the Nest: Pacific Ridge Honors Firebird Athletes

Pacific Ridge Athletics has trained over 100 athletes to play sports at a collegiate level. With athletes on the East Coast playing volleyball at Yale and Harvard, to those taking the field for our hometown teams including the San Diego Wave and UCSD, PRS is proud of all their athletes. To celebrate these accomplishments, Pacific Ridge recently updated the Hall of Fame in the Athletic Center, featuring some stellar scholar athletes.

Brady Burman ‘22
Basketball at Sarah Lawrence College

What motivated you to pursue basketball at the college level?

In sixth or seventh grade, the coach for my club basketball team stopped our practice to ask what we wanted to get out of basketball and how far we wanted to take it. My answer was to play college basketball. Ever since then, I had the dream of bringing that dream to a reality. Around my freshman or sophomore year of high school, I realized I was in a position where I may actually be able to make it to the college level.

How has being a student-athlete shaped your approach to your education and learning?

So much of what we learn in sports can be applied to life. To make it anywhere in sports, you have to work hard outside of just the games. The same goes for the classroom. You can’t just ace a test without working hard and preparing for it beforehand. One thing I learned at PRS was my dad and coach’s favorite saying: “What’s next?” I have applied this mindset to the rest of my life. When something negative happens, we have to accept it, learn from it, and move on to the next challenge. When something positive happens, we should celebrate it and then regain the hunger for the next goal on our list. 

What advice would you give high school athletes hoping to play in college?

I would suggest just putting yourself out there. It never hurts to email tons of coaches. I’d also suggest going to camps (WCE All-Academic camps for basketball players) where you can play in front of and introduce yourself to college coaches. Also, you are not recruited on just your ability to play the sport. Coaches want good students and great teammates. Be the best student, teammate, and player you can be. 

Soleil Dimry ‘23
Soccer at UC Berkeley

What motivated you to pursue soccer at the college level? How did your experience as a PRS athlete prepare you for collegiate athletics?

I have played soccer my entire life and have watched my siblings go on to play collegiate soccer. I’ve always known that I wanted to follow that path and play in college. My experience as a PRS athlete helped me learn how to manage my time effectively. At PRS I had to balance high-level academics with soccer, which allowed me to have a smoother transition to college academics and soccer. 

What has been a favorite memory so far playing for Berkeley?

My favorite memory is when I scored my first goal as a Golden Bear against Pitt this season to lead my team to a 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference season win. I had been injured on and off so to score this season was very memorable. 

What advice would you give high school athletes hoping to play in college? 

Be prepared to put 100% into your sport and your academics. Start practicing your time management skills now because you will have to juggle school, athletics, and travel. Also, keep in mind that you can be a leader whether you are on the field or not. Build relationships with your teammates and you’ll make friends for life.