Bradwell Institute incoming senior soccer player Justus Hoffmann was named to the 2015 Region 3-AAAAA All-Region First Team.
Boys’ soccer coach Tom Oglesby said Hoffmann, the lone Tiger player named to the team, was well deserving of the praise.

“When the coaches selected Justus to be the on the All-Region First Team, I shared with them a little bit about his background and the things he went through this season both on the field and off, and they were extremely impressed by his strength and work ethic,” Oglesby said, referring to the fact that the young man had to deal with the death of his mother in March during the heart of region play.
Hoffmann stayed focused and against South Effingham in March, just one week after his mom died, it was Hoffmann knocking in the Tigers’ first goal.

Oglesby said Hoffmann has been on the soccer team since his freshman year at BI.
“He has played attacking center midfield and center forward,” Oglesby said, adding that Hoffmann is looking to play soccer at the college level. “He has attended several camps, but he hasn’t made a commitment to any school so far.”

Oglesby said Hoffmann is the heart and soul of the Tigers, adding that his work ethic is impeccable.
“Some high-school athletes work extremely hard their freshmen year to make the team, and as the years go by, their work ethic decreases because they think they will continue to make the team,” the coach said. “However, Justus’ work ethic has only increased as he has gone through his high-school career. He is oftentimes at the fields by himself preparing for his senior year, and in the afternoons, he is encouraging his teammates to come out and play.”

Oglesby said the young man’s ability to play through his mother’s loss to ovarian cancer last year showed his strength of character.
“I often talk with him about his mother, and he knows she would want him to continue to do what he loves, which is playing soccer,” Oglesby said. “As a coach, I will never forget the moment when we were playing South Effingham … he scored … and he kissed fingers and pointed up to heaven.

It was a confirmation for Justus from his mother to remind him she will always be with him, and she will always be his No. 1 fan.”