Heart pumping, blood racing and adrenaline flowing.  Sophomore Dylan Cook gives his all on and off the soccer field. He’s been to England and Denmark and everything he’s done in his life has been related to soccer.

“I can’t imagine life without soccer,” Cook said.

Cook says the key to a great soccer player is practice, practice and more practice.  He has been playing since he was 4 years old; that’s a lot of practice.  His hard work has led him to become a goal keeper for Classic One League.

“Classic One is the best soccer division in the DFW area,” Cook said, “I am also in an Olympic development program.”

In the upcoming summer, Cook plans to go to Sweden and Denmark to play in the largest youth tournament in the world.

“I hope to play professionally one day,” Cook said.

Right now Dylan is being coached at school by Coach Bryan Thompson.

“Dylan is what a high school athlete should be and exemplify,” Thompson said. 

Cook has been coached by Thompson for two years so far.

“Dylan Cook is a captain and hard worker,” Thompson said.

He practices three to four hours a week and has been doing so since the start of his high school career

“It looks like he’s going to be a leader and great team player for the rest of his high school career,” Thompson said, “He’s currently the best goalkeeper in our school and has the hardest work ethic verses any other player on the soccer team.” 

Looking back, you’ll find a younger Cook with the same work ethic and love for the game.

“I remember the first time he came to practice for us,” Thompson said, “One of the kids looked at me and said ‘our goalkeeper is pretty good’ I thought that was an understatement.”