Think back for a second to the summer when you were 16 years old. What were you doing? Chances are you were ecstatic about getting your driver’s license or enjoying the three-month break from high school to hang out with your friends, sleep in or maybe grind it out at a part-time job. At least that’s somewhat along the lines of what most teenagers do around that age, but not Ethan Bryant.
Before even getting his license, in the middle of everyone his age enjoying their summer vacation, Bryant was busy making his professional soccer debut with San Antonio FC. On May 23, the San Antonio native got his first start for his hometown club at Toyota Field, taking the field for the first time as a pro in front of his home fans, friends and family in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The journey to get there wasn’t easy, but with hard work, determination, and most importantly a good head on his shoulders, Bryant achieved what no other San Antonio youth player has yet.
It started while Bryant was playing club soccer with local youth club Classics Elite. Shortly after the inception of the SAFC Pro Academy in 2016, San Antonio FC introduced its Elite Training Program, which offered training opportunities to some of the top players in the greater San Antonio area. Bryant was identified among that group, and after showing his potential in the ETP, he was offered an opportunity to train with the SAFC first team in the offseason.
“I was excited more than anything, but I was definitely a little nervous,” Bryant recalled of his first training session. “I felt good after the first day, but I knew that it was only that, and I needed to grow into it and get comfortable, especially in terms of adapting to the level of play.”
Bryant kept his head down and worked hard in each session he was invited to. He’s a humble guy, self-aware and realistic about his strengths and weaknesses alike. His mindset was never that he had made it, but rather that he was taking steps towards a bigger goal, and it wasn’t long before the next step came.
One day after a training session prior to the start of the 2018 season, Head Coach Darren Powell called Bryant into his office. The ETP standout thought it was for a routine meeting and expected to receive feedback on areas of his game that he needed to improve. Instead, he was offered a position in the SAFC first team for the upcoming campaign.
“I was stunned,” Bryant said. “I never expected an opportunity like this to come that early, but I was also really happy that it had. I remember walking to my car screaming ‘YES!’ It was a special moment.”
It was the first of many special moments in his upcoming rookie season. Bryant put in an impressive shift in his professional debut against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the Open Cup, playing 120 minutes and drawing the penalty that led to the lone SAFC goal in regulation time, before seeing the Alamo City club victorious and through to the fourth round of the competition on penalty kicks. Just a few weeks later, Bryant made his USL debut on June 16 at Toyota Field, again showing his potential as he set up Cesar Elizondo with a quality through-ball for the lone goal of the match just minutes before the halftime whistle.
Then came one of the most memorable moments in Bryant’s life. Just 26 minutes into the match between SAFC and Seattle Sounders FC on September 29, defender Greg Cochrane sent midfielder Lance Laing up the left flank with a through-ball. Bryant watched as the Jamaican made his way up the wing as he calculated his run into the box, and after a well-timed burst of speed, he connected with a volley that dinked off the crossbar, into the ground, and past the goal line for his first professional goal.
“I threw my body at the ball and connected really well with it,” Bryant recalled with a smile on his face. “When it hit the crossbar I thought I missed, but then it went down and back up to the top of the net. I don’t even remember running to the corner flag, but the next thing I knew all my teammates were there celebrating with me, and it was just special and unreal. I’ll remember that forever.”
While his first professional goal is a memory he will cherish forever, the celebration might be just as significant for Bryant. He was by far the youngest player on the squad at 17, he is the first SAFC first team player with a birth year in the 2000’s and there was a nearly 22-year gap between him and the oldest player on the squad (38-year-old Rafa Castillo), but that never mattered to his teammates. While it would’ve been almost natural to be a bit of an outsider, the team always made sure Bryant was included. He was truly one of their own.
His teammates are also friends, mentors and role models. Bryant specifically mentions Darnell King, Greg Cochrane, Ryan Roushandel and Pecka among the guys in the locker room who took him under their wing. These were players who Bryant was watching from the stands at Toyota Field just a year ago, hoping to one day be on a path similar to theirs, wishing to perhaps play alongside some of them one day.
“These guys have played at a really high level and for them to get excited for me is really special and awesome,” Bryant said. “It’s great to see these guys care about this team and about me, and I’m very fortunate to have guys like that around me.
“A year ago, I was playing with Classics Elite and training with the ETP, and I remember watching Pecka and Michael Reed play and really looking up to them. I liked the way they played, and all I was thinking was that I wanted to be out there too. I wanted to play with guys like Pecka and Rafa (Castillo), so it’s unreal that I’m here now.”
It is unreal. Few players that young get to be in the position that Bryant is in, but that doesn’t come easily. There’s plenty of sacrifice that goes along with the lifestyle and the pursuit of the dream. It’s hardly the life of your average teenager. School and hanging out with friends aren’t what they used to be.
Playing professionally changed Bryant’s weekly schedule significantly. Training days require players to be at the stadium early in the morning and sessions typically end around noon or even a little later. Because of that, public high school is not an option. Instead, Bryant is getting his education through online classes. Each day he spends about four hours after training getting his school work done, and if time allows, he might be able to hang out with his friends if what they’re doing that day isn’t strenuous. His priority, after all, is taking care of his body and making sure he’s ready for the next training session or match day.
“There are times when I wish I could just go to school– I can’t believe I’m even saying that,” Bryant said with a chuckle. “There are times when I wish I could just go hang out with my friends, but after sitting on it and thinking about the big picture I’ll think, ‘I’m glad I didn’t do that.’”
Sacrifice and occasional frustrations are part of the journey that Bryant is willing to accept. He knows making his dream a reality won’t come easily, but he’s fortunate to have an incredible support system at home. Bryant’s parents have been with him every step of the way, and they’re excited to let their son do everything he can to achieve his goals.
“My parents are super supportive,” Bryant said. “Every decision they make is with my best interest in mind and I’m really blessed to have them. They support me every day and come out to all the games. I’m fortunate to see them there every time.”
To play pro soccer is incredibly special, but to play for your hometown club is even better. Bryant was born and raised in the Alamo City. He came up through the youth soccer system in the city before there was an SAFC Pro Academy, before the Path to Pro was defined. Not long ago, he was a kid in the stands at Toyota Field, watching the club he supported represent his city. Now he gets the chance to go out there and represent it himself along with fellow San Antonio natives Matthew Cardone and Maxi Rodriguez.
“Playing here adds an incredible amount of value,” Bryant said. “This is big for me. To grow up with a team and see them play, and then suddenly finding myself in the first team, it’s crazy. This is big for me because this is my city. It’s what I know, and to be able to play for it is very special.”
Bryant is paving the way for future players in San Antonio. He is the first player to come through the SAFC Pro Academy ETP and into the first team, and he did it by adhering to the culture that the club has strived to build since its inception in 2016: Humble & Hungry. His path is one that young players in this city and the greater area can aim to emulate.
As Bryant looks forward to his sophomore campaign as a pro, he’ll remember the start of his journey and everything he learned along the way. He knows hard work and dedication are the way to continue building on his foundation. Starting his professional career at 16 years old was a big step, but he’s ambitious, excited, and ready to work for a bright future ahead.
“Playing professionally is a feeling that I’ve been wanting for a long time,” Bryant said. “I’m glad it happened so early, and being out on the field is unreal, so I’m excited to hopefully continue to do that.
“I want to continue developing and getting better. The game takes you places you’ve never imagined, and who knows what’s in store for me. But I’m ready to get to work.”
Think back for a second to the summer when you were 16 years old. What were you doing? Chances are you were ecstatic about getting your driver’s license or enjoying the three-month break from high school to hang out with your friends, sleep in or maybe grind it out at a part-time job. At least that’s somewhat along the lines of what most teenagers do around that age, but not Ethan Bryant.
Before even getting his license, in the middle of everyone his age enjoying their summer vacation, Bryant was busy making his professional soccer debut with San Antonio FC. On May 23, the San Antonio native got his first start for his hometown club at Toyota Field, taking the field for the first time as a pro in front of his home fans, friends and family in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The journey to get there wasn’t easy, but with hard work, determination, and most importantly a good head on his shoulders, Bryant achieved what no other San Antonio youth player has yet.
It started while Bryant was playing club soccer with local youth club Classics Elite. Shortly after the inception of the SAFC Pro Academy in 2016, San Antonio FC introduced its Elite Training Program, which offered training opportunities to some of the top players in the greater San Antonio area. Bryant was identified among that group, and after showing his potential in the ETP, he was offered an opportunity to train with the SAFC first team in the offseason.
“I was excited more than anything, but I was definitely a little nervous,” Bryant recalled of his first training session. “I felt good after the first day, but I knew that it was only that, and I needed to grow into it and get comfortable, especially in terms of adapting to the level of play.”
Bryant kept his head down and worked hard in each session he was invited to. He’s a humble guy, self-aware and realistic about his strengths and weaknesses alike. His mindset was never that he had made it, but rather that he was taking steps towards a bigger goal, and it wasn’t long before the next step came.
One day after a training session prior to the start of the 2018 season, Head Coach Darren Powell called Bryant into his office. The ETP standout thought it was for a routine meeting and expected to receive feedback on areas of his game that he needed to improve. Instead, he was offered a position in the SAFC first team for the upcoming campaign.
“I was stunned,” Bryant said. “I never expected an opportunity like this to come that early, but I was also really happy that it had. I remember walking to my car screaming ‘YES!’ It was a special moment.”
It was the first of many special moments in his upcoming rookie season. Bryant put in an impressive shift in his professional debut against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the Open Cup, playing 120 minutes and drawing the penalty that led to the lone SAFC goal in regulation time, before seeing the Alamo City club victorious and through to the fourth round of the competition on penalty kicks. Just a few weeks later, Bryant made his USL debut on June 16 at Toyota Field, again showing his potential as he set up Cesar Elizondo with a quality through-ball for the lone goal of the match just minutes before the halftime whistle.
Then came one of the most memorable moments in Bryant’s life. Just 26 minutes into the match between SAFC and Seattle Sounders FC on September 29, defender Greg Cochrane sent midfielder Lance Laing up the left flank with a through-ball. Bryant watched as the Jamaican made his way up the wing as he calculated his run into the box, and after a well-timed burst of speed, he connected with a volley that dinked off the crossbar, into the ground, and past the goal line for his first professional goal.
“I threw my body at the ball and connected really well with it,” Bryant recalled with a smile on his face. “When it hit the crossbar I thought I missed, but then it went down and back up to the top of the net. I don’t even remember running to the corner flag, but the next thing I knew all my teammates were there celebrating with me, and it was just special and unreal. I’ll remember that forever.”
While his first professional goal is a memory he will cherish forever, the celebration might be just as significant for Bryant. He was by far the youngest player on the squad at 17, he is the first SAFC first team player with a birth year in the 2000’s and there was a nearly 22-year gap between him and the oldest player on the squad (38-year-old Rafa Castillo), but that never mattered to his teammates. While it would’ve been almost natural to be a bit of an outsider, the team always made sure Bryant was included. He was truly one of their own.
His teammates are also friends, mentors and role models. Bryant specifically mentions Darnell King, Greg Cochrane, Ryan Roushandel and Pecka among the guys in the locker room who took him under their wing. These were players who Bryant was watching from the stands at Toyota Field just a year ago, hoping to one day be on a path similar to theirs, wishing to perhaps play alongside some of them one day.
“These guys have played at a really high level and for them to get excited for me is really special and awesome,” Bryant said. “It’s great to see these guys care about this team and about me, and I’m very fortunate to have guys like that around me.
“A year ago, I was playing with Classics Elite and training with the ETP, and I remember watching Pecka and Michael Reed play and really looking up to them. I liked the way they played, and all I was thinking was that I wanted to be out there too. I wanted to play with guys like Pecka and Rafa (Castillo), so it’s unreal that I’m here now.”
It is unreal. Few players that young get to be in the position that Bryant is in, but that doesn’t come easily. There’s plenty of sacrifice that goes along with the lifestyle and the pursuit of the dream. It’s hardly the life of your average teenager. School and hanging out with friends aren’t what they used to be.
Playing professionally changed Bryant’s weekly schedule significantly. Training days require players to be at the stadium early in the morning and sessions typically end around noon or even a little later. Because of that, public high school is not an option. Instead, Bryant is getting his education through online classes. Each day he spends about four hours after training getting his school work done, and if time allows, he might be able to hang out with his friends if what they’re doing that day isn’t strenuous. His priority, after all, is taking care of his body and making sure he’s ready for the next training session or match day.
“There are times when I wish I could just go to school– I can’t believe I’m even saying that,” Bryant said with a chuckle. “There are times when I wish I could just go hang out with my friends, but after sitting on it and thinking about the big picture I’ll think, ‘I’m glad I didn’t do that.’”
Sacrifice and occasional frustrations are part of the journey that Bryant is willing to accept. He knows making his dream a reality won’t come easily, but he’s fortunate to have an incredible support system at home. Bryant’s parents have been with him every step of the way, and they’re excited to let their son do everything he can to achieve his goals.
“My parents are super supportive,” Bryant said. “Every decision they make is with my best interest in mind and I’m really blessed to have them. They support me every day and come out to all the games. I’m fortunate to see them there every time.”
To play pro soccer is incredibly special, but to play for your hometown club is even better. Bryant was born and raised in the Alamo City. He came up through the youth soccer system in the city before there was an SAFC Pro Academy, before the Path to Pro was defined. Not long ago, he was a kid in the stands at Toyota Field, watching the club he supported represent his city. Now he gets the chance to go out there and represent it himself along with fellow San Antonio natives Matthew Cardone and Maxi Rodriguez.
“Playing here adds an incredible amount of value,” Bryant said. “This is big for me. To grow up with a team and see them play, and then suddenly finding myself in the first team, it’s crazy. This is big for me because this is my city. It’s what I know, and to be able to play for it is very special.”
Bryant is paving the way for future players in San Antonio. He is the first player to come through the SAFC Pro Academy ETP and into the first team, and he did it by adhering to the culture that the club has strived to build since its inception in 2016: Humble & Hungry. His path is one that young players in this city and the greater area can aim to emulate.
As Bryant looks forward to his sophomore campaign as a pro, he’ll remember the start of his journey and everything he learned along the way. He knows hard work and dedication are the way to continue building on his foundation. Starting his professional career at 16 years old was a big step, but he’s ambitious, excited, and ready to work for a bright future ahead.
“Playing professionally is a feeling that I’ve been wanting for a long time,” Bryant said. “I’m glad it happened so early, and being out on the field is unreal, so I’m excited to hopefully continue to do that.
“I want to continue developing and getting better. The game takes you places you’ve never imagined, and who knows what’s in store for me. But I’m ready to get to work.”
