On May 13th, during WIN 5, former Hempfield standout Russell Canouse returned to speak with the boys soccer team as they begin preparations for the 2025 season. Canouse, who played professionally in Germany and represented the U.S. National Team, introduced the players to The Complete Athlete program—a guide to building not just physical skill, but mental toughness and personal resilience.

Speaking from his own journey, Canouse shared the dedication and commitment it takes to reach the highest level. “During my off-season, I’d run two miles to the stadium, train for two and a half hours, then run back home with my backpack,” he recalled. His message was: success isn’t possible without putting in the work, especially when no one’s watching.

Canouse also opened up about personal obstacles that tested his ability . After losing his mother, he admitted to struggling on the field during the first six months of the season, despite serving as team captain. “I wasn’t playing up to my abilities,” he said. But instead of giving in, he used that pain as fuel, pushing himself to improve and rebuild his confidence.

Reflecting on his journey, Canouse described the emotional time of hitting rock bottom and later celebrating a win in Germany: “I went from my ultimate low to high point.” He mentioned how training abroad shaped him not only physically, but mentally. “In Germany, they try to mentally overload you to prepare you for the real soccer world.”

His visit served as a reminder to the team that challenges are part of the path.