For most kids, soccer starts as a simple game. For Rylee Brewster, it turned into a lifelong pursuit that has shaped who she is both on and off the field. After twelve years of dedication, she has earned a spot at Weber State University, but her journey there was anything but easy.

Rylee first fell in love with soccer for the same reasons most athletes do…the rush of competition, the friendships formed, and the challenge of pushing herself to be better. “There’s too many things I love about it,” she says. “All of my best friends came from soccer, and it’s made me competitive and passionate in everything I do.” That drive has become a defining trait, one that pushes her through long practices, hard losses, and the countless sacrifices that come with chasing a dream.

Before every game, Rylee finds her focus through small traditions that ground her. She listens to “The Show Goes On” on repeat, a song that reminds her to keep moving forward no matter what, and joins her high school teammates in a prayer before. Those moments of calm and connection help her play with both confidence and gratitude.

Still, the path to Weber State wasn’t smooth. One of the hardest decisions she ever made was leaving behind her lifelong team and the coach who felt like family. “I went from being with my best friends every day to knowing no one,” she recalls. “It took me about a year to really adapt. The girls were amazing, but it was hard coming into a team that had been together forever.” What got her through was effort. Every practice, every drill, every ounce of work became a chance to prove to herself that she belonged. “Effort triumphs mistakes,” she says, echoing advice from a coach that she now lives by. “No one gets upset when you’re trying your hardest.”

Rylee’s philosophy is simple but powerful; put in the effort, and everything else follows. That belief guided her to Weber State, where she chose not the biggest or flashiest program, but one where she could make an impact. “I wanted to be part of something I could help build,” she explains. “I didn’t want to be just another number. I wanted coaches who believed in me and teammates who felt like family.” For younger athletes chasing their own goals, Rylee’s advice is both practical and heartfelt. “Have fun,” she says. “It goes by so fast. If you don’t love it, you won’t make it. Work hard, but also love the hardest parts of it, the tackling, the running, the learning. Be coachable and take in everything you can.”

As she looks to the future, Rylee already knows what kind of legacy she wants to leave. “I want to be remembered as the girl with the most grit,” she says. “Someone who outworked everyone the moment she stepped on the field. But I also want to be known as fun, kind, and full of energy; The one who pumped everyone up before every game.”

Rylee Brewster’s story transcends the sport of soccer; it's about courage, resilience, and the belief that effort can change everything. At Spectator Sport, we see her as a reminder that greatness isn’t measured by where you start or even where you finish, but by how much heart you give along the way.