Nick Shepherd’s junior year was excruciating. A torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee left him sidelined for the year. But between his play at the club level and his first two years with the Fluvanna County soccer team, there was more than enough for Virginia Military Institute to welcome him to their team. On Thursday afternoon Shepherd inked his national letter of intent to play for the Keydets.
“VMI was definitely the place for me,” Shepherd said. “They’ve got a great tradition and on top of that it’s (a chance to get) a great education.”
Shepherd was looking to play for a Division I school and with the Keydets he’ll get that opportunity. The VMI coaching staff got a good hard look at the Fluco forward once he began suiting up for Virginia United. The SOCA team held their practices on campus in Lexington and even after Shepherd injured himself, the Keydets kept pursuing.
“They kept recruiting me even after I blew out my knee and that’s one thing I really love about them,” Shepherd said.
Since he started as a freshman, Shepherd has been an integral part in building the Flucos’ soccer program to one of the best in the Jefferson District and being a part of the blossoming team has meant an awful lot.
“As a ninth grader it was tough because we had a lot of obstacles but it’s all paid off,” Shepherd said. “It feels great to have been a part of this team. I didn’t play last year and I get to this year – I have yet to play a full season in highschool but sometimes that’s actually helped. Really though, I just want to help Fluvanna get a (Jefferson District) championship.”
