Ulysses Morales Balances Football and Soccer Passion

Ulysses Morales, a senior at Oak Forest, has forged a promising path in football, though he remains deeply passionate about soccer. Initially starting as a kicker for the Bengals during his sophomore year, Morales decided to dedicate his fall season to both sports. He committed to Illinois football in June, tempted to leave soccer behind. However, encouragement from football coaches urged him to continue with soccer, and his soccer coaches supported his choice.

Morales expressed gratitude for maintaining his connection to soccer. He said, “I’m glad I chose to play soccer. It’s my final year, and I’m able to play with my friends and play the game I’ve been playing all my life, even though I’m moving toward football now.” Balancing both sports has led to bustling weekends, like the recent occasion where he kicked for Oak Forest football’s 38-0 victory over Stagg and then participated in a soccer match against Mount Carmel, securing a 1-0 win in the Windy City Ram Classic consolation game.

“I’ve been doing both sports since sophomore year, but this is the first year that I’ve really focused a ton on football, so it’s been the toughest year,” Morales explained. “My legs are still adjusting. I’ve been going to the trainer a lot more before, during games, even after games. There’s a lot more I have to do recovery-wise, but I think it’s worth it.”

Morales’ football journey began unexpectedly. He tried football kicking during his sophomore year, initially unsure about its potential. But with the guidance of kicking coach Chris Nendick, Morales gained confidence. Nendick helped improve his form, power, and strength, paving the way for Morales to score five field goals last season and perform consistently in kickoffs.

This offseason proved pivotal as Morales impressed college coaches at various camps. “In January, the first school that ever talked to me was Purdue,” Morales revealed. “I was shocked they wanted to talk to me. Then things kind of cooled off until March and I got my first offer from Arkansas State. That was my only offer until June, and then when Illinois offered, I committed on the spot. It made me so happy. With everything I’ve worked for, it was a great feeling and I got to share it with my family.”

Morales attributes much of his progress to mental growth. Reflecting on his sophomore year, he said, “I doubted myself. I didn’t want to go into the game. I was super scared. Now, I trust myself more. I want to be in the spot to make the game-winning kick. I want the team to trust me and know that I’m going to make it in those moments.”

On the soccer field, Morales has gained trust from both players and coaches, including Oak Forest coach Alex Alvarez. “I know football is his No. 1 thing right now because it’s going to take him farther in life, but we know he loves soccer, so we told him, ‘It’s up to you,'” Alvarez stated. “We’re going to be lenient if he can’t always be here. It’s great to have him on the team. He’s not a captain this year, but all the kids still look at him as a leader.”