Player Q & A: Meet T.J. Freeman, Vandebilt freshman striker

T.J. Freeman is a freshman striker for the Vandebilt Terriers’ soccer team. In the Terriers second-round playoff win, Freeman scored two goals, helping the Terriers to get one step closer to a second-consecutive state championship.

SN: How long have you been playing soccer and what got you interested in the sport?

TJF: Since I was around 5-years old. Actually, my parents got me parents interested in the game. I guess when I was little, my parents wanted me to play every sport and see which one I liked, and I choose soccer.

SN: What’s your experience in soccer?

TJF: I played for the Blackhawks, and then after that we dropped out of the Blackhawks, and we started a recreation team. And I’ve been playing there ever since.

SN: What’s it like playing here at Vandebilt with the tradition this soccer team has?

TJF: It’s hard to keep up. It’s fun. It’s funner than any other program.

SN: As a freshman, what was it like getting adjusted to starting right away?

TJF: I was surprised that I was here. I was really surprised, because I didn’t think that I would be up here with all of the older guys.

SN: What’s your favorite thing about playing at Vandebilt?

TJF: Just trying to keep up the tradition.

SN: Who’s your favorite opponent to play against?

TJF: St. Thomas More. That’s just our rival. For me it’s a rival, I really would love to beat them.

SN: What’s your favorite thing about soccer, overall?

TJF: Scoring is my favorite thing.

SN: What’s your best memory of your first season here at Vandebilt?

TJF: My first goal. I shot it, and it deflected off the goalkeeper, and I just kicked it in, from there.

SN: Overall, since you’ve started playing soccer, what’s been the highlight of you career?

TJF: The state championship we won (last year) for our recreation team. But I think that’ll change if we win it this year (at Vandebilt).

SN: Tell me something about coach Doug Hamilton that maybe only the team knows about?

TJF: They train us really hard, and expect us to do our best. To me, I think they do their best to get us motivated.

Player Q & A: Meet T.J. Freeman, Vandebilt freshman striker