Sebastien Stephens
FeaturedAbout Athlete
I was born in the United Kingdom, but I was raised in Canada from the age of three, and I have Canadian and UK citizenship. My father played Varsity collegiate soccer at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. On my mother’s side, my uncle (her brother) played professionally in the fifth and sixth tier of the English soccer pyramid before an injury sidetracked his career at an early age.
On the football side, I had initially trained with the Whitecaps FC pre-academy boys, and then I signed for TSS Rovers FC. I play for the TSS Rovers FC Il. This team is currently playing in a men’s U-21 league (with JV university teams and the Whitecaps FC U-21 team), and I am a starter usually anywhere among the front three in a 4-3-3 formation. My team acts as a feeder / second eleven for the men’s team fielded by TSS Rovers FC (a semi-professional team in League 1 British Columbia (the third tier of the Canadian football pyramid)). For my school, I play for the Varsity boys soccer team (seventeen and eighteen years old), playing up two years. My school usually places highly in the Provincial finals and we won it in 2019 (we finished 4th in the Provincials in 2022 – lost in the semi finals on penalties). As a player I am quick, smart and technically strong, and because I play against players who are much more physically developed I have been taught to solve problems with my brain and my decision making as opposed to trying to out-muscle or out-run my opponents. I am a good teammate and an excellent passer of the ball, modelling my play after my favourite footballer, Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund.
On the academic side, I have 4.0 grade point average, and an average percentage of 94%. Like many boys born in the UK, my first ambition is to secure a professional contract to play the game I am so passionate about, but acknowledging that injuries and other things can derail that dream, I do want to pursue a business degree at the same time as playing at the highest level of collegiate soccer I can. I would like to stay in the game as part of my career either on the pitch or in the front office in some capacity, and a business degree will be a strong first step if the future on the pitch becomes uncertain.
GPA
4.0 out of a grade scale of 4 with a 94% overall average grade.
SAT Total Score
TOEFL Total Score
ACT Score
Teams
I play for the TSS Rovers FC II, which is the second team of a League 1BC - a semi-professional league (the third tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid). This team currently playing in a men's U-21 league (with JV university teams and the Whitecaps FC U-21 team). I am a regular starter at Central Attacking Midfielder at 15 and have one assist in one game played so far this season.
I am also the co-Captain and starting central midfielder for the Vancouver College Varsity Boy's team. Play has not yet started for the fall season.
I am a quick and smart attacking player, and I like to defend from the front. I make smart runs, retain/win possession and love breaking lines with passes. Hopefully you get a chance to see the videos of my play which will highlight what I say above.
Championships
Last season, my Vancouver College Varsity Boy's Soccer Team placed 4th in the Triple AAA Boys Varsity Provincials. This is the top level of High School Boys soccer competition in the Province of British Columbia and we lost in a shoot out in the semi-finals and the third place game. It was disappointing, but this season we are predicted to win the championship, so I am working hard to make sure that happens. I am a regular starting at Central Attacking Midfielder for my varsity team and have been elected co-Captain for this season, my Junior year.
For TSS Rovers FC II, I am, at 15 years old, a starting attacking midfielder/false nine/second striker. This is a very selective team and serves as the 'Second 11' for the TSS Rovers FC senior men's team which plays in the semi-professional League 1BC. We are currently in an under 21 Senior Men's Metro League Division 1 league (which contains a handful of senior men's amateur teams, university JV teams and the Whitecaps FC U-21 team).
Additional sporting info
I have worked and currently work with Adam Plumber who is a well respected strength and movement coach. Adam is an ex pro soccer player and a consultant to multiple NFL and NBA teams as well as other pro athletes.
I also ski, play tennis and work out in my spare time.
Personal Best
I have a 5 minute and 53 second 1 mile running time and I am at the top of the class in my Strength and Conditioning class at school.
What makes you different?
The way I read and see the game is noticeably different from boys around me. My teammates and coaches on my high school varsity team call me 'The Professor' because of my knowledge of the game and how I play smart. Unlike a lot of North American footballers, I like to keep the ball and I prefer to break teams down on the dribble or by splitting lines. My movement is smart and allows me to win back possession quickly when my team loses the ball, and allows me to get into pockets of space that make defending against me difficult.
Also, being a regular starter on a highly competitive and selective team in a U-21 development league, competing against pro-academy players and JV athletes aspiring to play varsity for their universities shows that my TSS Rovers FC II coach trusts me and my ability to compete and impact the game against older and physically more developed players.
Why do you want to compete in college?
Like many boys born in the UK, my first ambition is to secure a professional contract to play the game I am so passionate about, but acknowledging that injuries and other things can derail that dream, I do want to pursue a business degree at the same time as playing at the highest level of collegiate soccer I can. I would like to stay in the game as part of my career either on the pitch or in the front office in some capacity, and a business degree will be a strong first step if the future on the pitch becomes uncertain.
College Goals?
I would like to play at the highest level of collegiate soccer I can and to get a business degree from a strong academic university. My goal is to not just 'make' a team, but actually be a contributor and ideally help bring (or further develop) the success of a strong program that likes players to 'play football'. I will give 100% every training session, gym session and game and I plan on winning starting time and locking down a starting spot wherever I go to ensure that I can be part of the success on the pitch and turn heads in the process.
Ultimately, if my future is to play on the field, I'd like to try to secure a pro contract off the back of a strong performance at the collegiate level and push on from there.
Education
High School
Vancouver College is a private, Catholic preparatory school for boys in Vancouver, Canada.
