Weston Stephenson, a freshman at St. X with cerebral palsy, recently played in Uruguay for the U.S. Junior National CP Soccer Team. Stephenson was a part of an international competition where kids diagnosed with cerebral palsy played soccer against each other. He is currently on the U.S. junior team that develops players for the men’s national team.
Cerebral palsy is a disease that causes muscles in a person’s body to be weaker than other muscles. This disease could occur anywhere in the body depending on the person. Weston has this disease on the left side of his body. He developed the disease at birth after undergoing a stroke.
“My experience with it hasn’t really been different from able-bodied people,” Stephenson said. “It’s just that I get a lot of questions about it. If I’m really being honest, I didn’t even know there was something wrong with my arm and leg until around my 4th grade year.”
Weston got involved with the team by attending a coaching clinic in Kentucky. A member of the IFCPF, International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football, was at this clinic and Weston caught his eye. This worker was impressed with Weston’s talents and invited him to a camp. Ever since then, he’s been playing for the organization.
Weston has attended a total of four camps that have taken him all over the world since joining the organization. One of which he played in Canada twice and scored a goal in both matches.
“I give a lot of credit to my club Mockingbird Valley for giving me a place to play at a high level for so many years,” Stephenson said. “I also give a lot of credit to St. X for the practices and weight lifting to help me get ready for the trip to Uruguay.”
Weston has two very talented soccer players in his own house that are his inspiration. His dad was captain of the Kentucky soccer team for three out of the four years he played there. His mother started out her collegiate soccer career at LSU and later transferred to Kentucky to finish it. Weston loves this sport and will do whatever it takes to keep being successful at it.
“What really keeps me going is I know what I can achieve, and I would regret it if I didn’t keep going and keep working,” Stephenson said.
