Army West Point Athletics
Black Knight Spotlight - Adrian Moreno
August 28, 2006 | General
1. What does it mean to you to play men’s soccer at West Point?
“I think it means a lot. I have developed a lot of bonds with my teammates. I get to play the sport that I love at the Division I level. Coming in as new cadets, meeting a whole new group of friends and teammates, playing and growing with them has been priceless.”
2. What is the best thing about being an athlete at West Point?
“Playing soccer is an escape from all of the academics and military responsibilities you have at West Point. When I am at practice or a game, I can focus on soccer and not have to worry about my responsibilities back up top.”
3. What is the most difficult thing?
“There is really nothing difficult about it. Sometimes you don’t always get the weekends because we have games. So when all of your friends are going out, we’re playing soccer. But I don’t mind that at all because most of my Corps friends are on the soccer team. Academically it might be a little tougher because you come back from practice and you’re really tired but you have to stay up and write a paper or study for a test.”
4. What is your fondest sports memory that you have had since arriving at West Point?
“It would be my first career goal for Army. It came in overtime during our win over Sacred Heart during my freshman year. It was the second game of the season and we were in the second overtime. I remember seeing the ball, taking the shot and winning the game. It will be something I will always remember.”
5. What adjustments have you had to make since arriving here?
a. Socially: “Nothing really. I still keep in touch with my close friends from home. You don’t get to go out as much here, especially as a freshman. When I talk to my friends at home, they tell me how they go out and party and as a freshman I was stuck at the barracks on weekends. I made a lot of good friends early so I haven’t really had to change socially.”
b. Athletically: “Nothing has really changed athletically because I have been playing soccer since I was young and I have always been doing it.”
c. Academically: “It’s definitely a lot different that high school. In high school you didn’t really have to do you work but here you have to do it or you get in trouble. A lot more studying too. You actually have to teach yourself some of the stuff here as opposed to high school where they spoon feed you a lot your work.”
6. Why did you decide to come to West Point? What were some of the deciding factors? Who or what influenced your decision?
“I wanted to be in the Army. I didn’t know much about West Point when I was younger but then my brother came here before. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to come here but then I got recruited to play soccer. I thought it would be cool to come to West Point and play soccer for a Division I school and be in the Army afterwards. So I decided to come here and I haven’t regretted it at all. All of the experiences and friends that I have made here is priceless.”
7. What do you enjoy doing during your “down time”?
“I like to hang out with my friends, listen to music, go out as much as a can. I’m not the kind of guy who can just sit in a room, I’m not a couch potato, I like to be active.”
8. Which branch are you planning on entering following graduation?
“I want to branch infantry. I would like to go mechanized infantry. My brother is in light infantry and be based out of Fort Hood, Texas, because it is close to my home in Houston.”
9. What makes athletes at West Point unique from athletes at other schools?
“All the things we have to go through on top of soccer give us an advantage over athletes from other schools. At a lot of other schools, soccer is the main focus. Those athletes don’t have to worry about waking up early, going to classes, doing the military training during the summer. We have proven we can handle more than just soccer and I think that sets us above athletes from other schools.”
10. What is the best thing about being a cadet?
“I’d say the experience. No matter how much you talk to someone about it, they will never understand it until they go through it themselves. The strong bonds you make with your friends, the qualities you take from this place like organization and time management. Its good having all of those skills overall is important.”
