Editor’s note: This is a regular feature profiling senior athletes at Bryant High School.
Blake Reed
NAME: Blake Reed
PARENTS: Brian and Sheri Reed
FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Math
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? I like to watch TV and work on computers.
FAVORITE FOOD: Grilled chicken
FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST OR GROUP: Green Day
FAVORITE MOVIE: Never Back Down
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Walking Dead
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A KID? Legos
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? Going to college to study computer science at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
OTHER THAN YOUR PARENTS, WHO HAS HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE? My older sister, Lauren; she always worked really hard all through school and kind of set a path of expectations for me. I’ve really worked hard to be on par and compete with my sister.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT SOCCER: My team; I’ve been playing with them since I was like 4 so I have a really strong bond with all my teammates. That’s the best part. I like the whole team aspect of soccer because, with our team, it has to be a whole team effort. It’s kind of make or break. If we don’t all work together then it can just ruin a game.
POSITION: Center midfield
WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE IS YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE FIELD? I basically control the flow of the game and make sure we keep possession and distribute the ball well all throughout the field.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SEASON SO FAR? I think we’ve been playing really well after we had a really shaky start in the first two tournaments we played. I think our mindset’s getting better as we go through the season.
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT TO THE SEASON SO FAR? Beating Benton 5-0 after losing to them last year because that was embarrassing.
WHEN THE TEAM’S PLAYING WELL, WHAT GOING ON? We move the ball really well. We work together. We’re talking and we’re actually focused on playing the game rather than other things.
WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE TEAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL THE REST OF THE SEASON? We need to get a good group mentality towards playing at State. We need to all be focused whenever we get in the playoffs.
INDIVIDUALLY, WHAT ABOUT YOUR GAME ARE YOU MOST CONFIDENT ABOUT? My awareness of the field as a whole and being able to distribute it to open space.
WHAT DO YOU WORK HARDEST TO IMPROVE? My shot, because I’m horrible at shooting.
AFTER YOU’RE THROUGH PLAYING SOCCER AT BHS, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL REMEMBER MOST FONDLY ABOUT IT? My team and how we’ve always been together and worked together through everything and all the hard work we’ve put into four years of soccer. And on and off the field, our teamwork.
