Most seniors enter their final season carrying years of soccer memories with them. Richard Bindner entered his senior season ready to create his first.
Known to his teammates as Ricky, Richard is wearing #25 for Greater Latrobe during his first year playing soccer—ever. After representing Latrobe on the golf team during his junior year, he decided to step into an entirely different kind of athletic experience for 2026–27.
It did not take long for the new game to become something more.
Richard’s first soccer match was Latrobe’s scrimmage against Canon-McMillan. Everything about it was new, but by the end of that experience, he had discovered a genuine passion for the sport.
Starting something unfamiliar takes courage at any age. Doing it as a senior—when most athletes around you have spent years developing their skills—requires a willingness to be uncomfortable, learn openly and keep working.
Fortunately, those are qualities Richard already understands well.
“Embrace the struggle. It is the best form of improvement.”
Ready for a New Challenge
Although soccer is new to Richard, challenging himself physically is not.
He has been skiing at Seven Springs since he was about seven years old and has competed on the alpine race team through the Western Pennsylvania Race Club. He also has a deep passion for working out and spends much of his time away from school in the gym.
Each pursuit demands discipline, confidence and the ability to recover when something does not go as planned. But soccer has introduced Richard to something his other athletic experiences had not emphasized in quite the same way: depending on—and contributing to—an entire team.
“Soccer has taught me how to work better as a team. Prior to soccer, I had little experience in team sports.”
For Richard, learning the game has also meant learning how to communicate, trust the players around him and recognize the role every person has in the team’s success.
His personal goal this season is to build enough confidence to communicate effectively and help the Wildcats on the field. He hopes the team continues improving together, develops stronger chemistry and earns a place in the playoffs.
A Senior and a Student of the Game
Richard may be one of the newest soccer players on the roster, but he is still one of its seniors—and he does not take that responsibility lightly.
Being a senior means trying his best to demonstrate leadership and encouragement. His leadership does not come from pretending to know everything. It comes from being willing to learn, work and give his full effort while encouraging others to do the same.
His favorite memory so far happened before Latrobe’s first game, when he experienced the excitement and energy inside the locker room. During team huddles, Coach Shaffer and Richard’s teammates continue to push the group to give its best effort—something he says always inspires him.
Those teammates have also been central to his transition into the sport.
“My teammates were always my biggest support. They’ve helped me pick myself back up many times and pushed me to become a better player.”
That support has allowed Richard to step outside his comfort zone and become part of a team during the final year of his high school career.
Stronger Than Your Own Doubts
Richard’s advice to future Wildcats reflects the mentality required to begin something new:
“The only thing that can destroy iron is its own rust.”
To Richard, the message is about refusing to let doubt become the obstacle. Your own thoughts—and the habit of getting inside your own head—can cause more harm than the forces around you. Learning to push past that mentality is essential to improvement.
It is a lesson that applies whether someone is stepping onto a soccer field for the first time, standing at the top of a ski course or working toward a new goal in the gym.
Richard hopes his teammates remember him as an athlete who puts his all into everything.
His senior soccer story may span only one season, but the commitment behind it is unmistakable: Richard did not join simply to say he tried. He joined ready to learn, contribute and go all in.
Beyond the Field
Richard’s drive to improve himself is closely connected to his desire to help other people do the same.
After graduation, he plans to attend West Virginia University. Ten years from now, he hopes to be working as a physical therapist and personal trainer—careers that would allow him to help others recover, become stronger and accomplish their own goals.
His love of winter also influences his dream vacation: Switzerland, chosen for its beautiful snowy landscapes.
Before games, Richard prepares by listening to Deftones, his favorite band. His favorite class is psychology, his favorite club is Arsenal and the athlete he most admires is Diego Maradona. If he could have dinner with anyone, he would choose fitness educator Jeff Nippard, someone Richard believes could teach him a great deal.
At home, one meal stands above the rest: anything his mom makes—but especially her grilled lamb.
And should his teammates ever need an unexpected demonstration, Richard can apparently make a clover with his tongue.
One Season That Matters
Richard’s journey is proof that there is no wrong time to discover something that challenges and excites you.
He walked into his senior season without years of soccer experience to rely upon. What he brought instead was a willingness to struggle, improve and accept support from the people around him.
Now he has an opportunity to make his first season meaningful—not because of how long he has played, but because of how completely he is willing to embrace it.
For Richard “Ricky” Bindner #25, the goal is simple: give everything he has, encourage his teammates and leave the field knowing he never allowed fear or doubt to keep him from trying.
One season. One new passion. And every reason to go all in.
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