Keller’s Bryce Boneau determined to be the best
KELLER, Texas (BVM) — Resilience is one thing athletes constantly show they have in their careers. Bryce Boneau is one of those athletes.
Almost a year ago, Bryce Boneau was sitting in a wheelchair recovering from a fractured tibia. And now, with his continued hard work and resilience, he has been awarded the 2020-21 Gatorade National Soccer Player of the Year award.
With this award, Boneau joins a special list of national player of the year winners, including Alecko Eskandarinan, a Major League Soccer (MLS) champion, and former United States national team captain Claudio Reyna.
Here’s the moment Bryce was surprised with the announcement… pic.twitter.com/RP8YLaTmlO
— Keller Schools (@KellerISD) June 17, 2021
“Bryce is the best midfielder we played against this season,” Keller Central High School head coach Scott Henlverson said in a Gatorade press release. “His ability to cover ground is insane. His athleticism, vision, technique, movement on and off the ball and ability to change a game are at a completely different level.”
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound senior midfielder scored 18 goals and dished out 19 assists this past season after the fractured tibia ended his junior campaign. Boneau and his teammates were one game into the playoffs when the injury occurred.
Following his junior season, Boneau led the Indians to an overall record of 17-3 in 2020. But Boneau’s season would once again be cut short, this time by a sprained MCL, torn ACL and a torn lateral meniscus.
“I’ve had my fair share of injuries throughout my high school career and having these guys [his teammates] around me makes it super easy to bounce back and keep playing,” Boneau said in the Gatorade press release.
Doctors did assure Boneau that he could resume soccer activities later in 2021 or early in 2022. Boneau signed a national letter of intent to play soccer at the University of Notre Dame this fall.
Along with his Gatorade award, Boneau was also named Dallas Morning News Offensive Player of the Year, a 6A first-team all-state selection, and has been a three-time all-district selection.
“Naturally, I’m a very competitive person,” Boneau said in the Gatorade press release. “I like to win and I’ve had a love for this sport since I was little. “It’s an indescribable feeling [to win this award].”
He also has maintained an A average in the classroom while doing a lot to help out his community. Boneau has also volunteered for St. Barnabas Anglican church, including the Children’s Ministry. He also collects and distributes refurbished sports equipment to underserved youth while serving as the president of his school’s Play it Forward Chapter.
At a young age, Boneau has already shown a tremendous amount of toughness. The competition will be challenging at the next level, but Boneau is ready to prove he has what it takes to play at a higher level.
Bryce will look to recover and hopefully kick off his collegiate career when he reaches South Bend this fall.
Bryce Boneau was balling all season. Scoring and assisting was like clockwork to him–Congrats @BryceBoneau on winning the 2020-21 National Boys Soccer #GatoradePOY 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ew3uSadhT8
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 17, 2021
