Brady Ballew loves to play soccer. It's been his passion since he was a youngster, and now the Marysville-Pilchuck senior is getting set to realize a dream. He's been offered the opportunity to play soccer at Seattle University, an NCAA Division 1 school.

He was also recently selected by the Seattle Times as a member of the Star Times boy's soccer team. Nearly 3,000 varsity soccer players from more than 100 high schools in the greater Seattle area are scouted to determine the elite team, and Brady stood out among the crowd to join ten other outstanding high school athletes chosen by the newspaper's sports writers.

As a forward with the M-P varsity soccer team, Brady scored 19 goals this season to lead the Tomahawks into the Class 4A state playoffs for the third consecutive year.

"They say that luck happens when preparation meets opportunity, and I believe it to be true," Brady wrote in a scholarship application. "As long as I could walk, I have been preparing to become a collegiate soccer player, and with hard work came the opportunity to perform in front of a group of college coaches."

"The day I received the offer to play soccer for Seattle University was the best personal achievement I have ever been awarded," Brady continued. "It might not have even been the award that was the most important feeling, but the belief my family and friends instilled in me to get there."

Off the field, Brady is also a musician who plays drums and guitar.

Brady is the son of Jim and MaryAnn Ballew of Marysville. His father is director of the Marysville Parks and Recreation department and his mother works for the Marysville School District.