Bermuda100: Richardson's tough route to the top

I want to share with you a story that I feel is inspirational for many of our young athletes in Bermuda.

This is a story about perseverance and belief; of a young lady that continued to maintain her focus no matter the  obstacles.

Knowing her personally is one thing but knowing the sacrifices she made to continue her journey of playing for her college team in Miami was inspiring to me. This is an article in the Miami Herald that was written by Walter Villa on our own young athlete. 

There are few college scouts searching for soccer talent in Bermuda. 

And, for any who do check in on the island, it’s likely they wouldn’t have much interest in a girl who missed her entire 12th-grade season because of a right knee ACL injury.

Given her injury, Dominique Richardson enrolled at Barry University with the intention of studying finance and one day returning to Bermuda to perhaps own an insurance company.

Soccer, though, was never too far from her mind. She nagged the coaches at Barry until they gave her a tryout. But before she could make the team, she ruptured her left ACL.“After my second surgery,” Richardson said, “I doubted if I could ever play again.”

Richardson, 21, not only returned to the field, she has become a starter and a standout.  

“She is one of our top performers if not the best,” said Denise Brolly, Barry’s first-year coach who had spent the previous six seasons as a Bucs assistant. 

“It’s amazing to consider how far she has come — it gives me goose bumps.”

A midfielder, Richardson has led Barry to a 10-3-1 record and its first berth in the Sunshine State Conference tournament since 2004. The tournament begins November 5.

Richardson has started all 14 of Barry’s games and has four goals and two assists. Scheduled to graduate in May, Richardson is not sure if she will return to the team next year. But Brolly made her intentions clear. 

“She better come back,” said Brolly, 32, who at age 15 made Scotland’s national team as one of its youngest members ever.

Richardson has come a long way from a player that Brolly at first thought would be suitable only for the scout team. 

“She is so athletic, quick and dynamic,” Brolly said. 

“When there are five minutes left, I’m looking for Dominique to make runs because I know she will be the only one with anything left. She never gives up.” 

Dominique, your story is a special one and I am sure your family is proud. 

My advice to you is to never forget the hard work you put in when you’re on top of the world in your career. Until next time. 

David Bascome is a coach at Baltimore Blast and founder of the Hope4Life Foundation and the Bermuda100 initiative.