On a rainy Tuesday afternoon in September, Kyndal Shuler sits at the Starbucks, fully immersed in work. Tucked in a corner atop a stool, the Battlefield High School junior intensely scans her laptop.
She doesn’t look at her phone but rather glances at a yellow sticky pad inscribed with her to-do list: complete an English assignment, study for an AP psychology test, write a biographical essay for a soccer organization.
Finally, prepare for her referee recertification class. “It’s the only way I can get money,” Shuler said.
The 16-year-old’s time is tight. She even avoids studying at cafes closer to school. Shuler prefers no distractions during the 2½ hours she sets aside to complete her work before heading home to Warrenton for dinner and then back to Prince William for soccer practice with Virginia Development Academy, an elite soccer travel team.
To say Shuler makes the most of her time is an understatement; it may just be the secret to her success.
Shuler is a high achieving student, a two-time all-state selection soccer player and, most notably, a U-16 U.S. Youth National Girls Soccer Team participant.
Routine matters to her. Her time at home is for family and relaxation. When on the soccer field, she is focused on improving her game and helping her teammates.
And her time at Starbucks is for homework and other tasks.
“I look forward to the end of the day and getting everything done,” Shuler said. “That way I don’t have to worry about anything until the next day.”
Shuler took the same approach in selecting a college. To avoid the last-minute rush and to ensure roster spots were still available, Shuler decided to commit to a school by the fall of her junior year.
In August, she visited Texas Christian University, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia. She also had other visits scheduled, but U.Va. was her dream school.
The Charlottesville university offers a reputable kinesiology program and a renowned soccer program. In his 35th year at the helm, Steve Swanson has guided the Cavaliers to three College Cup appearances and produced 22 National Women’s Soccer League draft picks.
Shuler announced her commitment to U.Va. on Sept. 19, making her the first Battlefield girls soccer player to do so since the school opened in 2004.
None of this is surprising to those who know Shuler. They know she is extremely motivated. Shuler sees a goal and does her best to accomplish it. She carries a 4.2 grade point average, while continuing to dominate on the soccer field.
It is not superhuman talent, she credits, rather hard work and dedication.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had to tell [Kyndal] to do her homework,” said her father, David.
Seeking challenges
Shuler grew up in Fauquier County, where she attended C.M. Bradley Elementary and Marshall Middle School. She began her soccer career competing with the Fauquier County Soccer Club.
For high school, though, Shuler chose Battlefield for its challenging classes and successful girls soccer team. Under head coach Kevin Hilton, the Bobcats have gone 272-48-16 and won three state titles over the past 17 seasons. Shuler’s parents pay out-of-county tuition for her to attend Battlefield.
David Shuler, who has been Battlefield’s Air Force Junior ROTC instructor since 2010, never mentioned to Hilton how good his daughter was in soccer when she arrived her freshman year.
However, Hilton learned of Shuler while attending his son’s youth soccer games in Stafford and Loudoun. Two sets of parents let him know the school was getting a special player. Shuler has lived up to the hype.
Shuler tallied 20 goals and eight assists to help lead Battlefield to the Class 6 state final as a freshman. As a sophomore, she tallied 13 goals and 12 assists, before joining the U.S. U-16 Youth Women’s National Team for a training camp in June in Aschaffenburg, Germany.
Shuler started both games that the U.S. team won against Germany and scored one goal. Afterward, she received feedback through a three-page evaluation by the coaching staff.
“It was a big shock to be invited,” Shuler said. “It was always a big dream and obviously a goal of mine. I was grateful for the opportunity. I grew and matured as a player … I want to use it as a motivator to keep going and keep driving for more.”
In her zone
The chance to compete with the U-16’s meant Shuler’s Battlefield season ended in the district tournament final. Shuler did not want to leave before her high school season finished. She is the type of person who likes to set up her teammates as much as scoring goals. But everyone understood she needed to take advantage of her first youth national team call-up.
“It was a no-brainer,” said Hilton. “How many kids get to wear the jersey for the U-16’s? That’s a lifetime memory. That’s hard to pass up.”
It’s tough to break Shuler out of a mindset. For every game Battlefield wins she wears the same gray pre-wrap headband to keep her hair out of her eyes. She only replaces it if the Bobcats lose.
Here’s another example of her reliance on ritual. If there’s no game, she’s as talkative as they come. But on game day, Shuler goes into the zone. She follows the same pre-game tradition. Her parents drive her to a home or away contest, while she sits in the back with her Beats headphones listening to her playlist.
Once they drop Shuler at her destination, David and his wife, Kim, tell their daughter to play hard and have a good game. Shuler thanks them and tells them she loves them. Then, she’s back in her zone.
“I need that routine,” Shuler said. “If I don’t have that, it would drive me crazy.”
David Fawcett is sports editor of InsideNoVa. Reach him at dfawcett@insidenova.com.
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