San Antonio FC defender Cyprian Hedrick is the club’s first new signing ahead of the 2017 season. The 27-year-old, who was a crucial part of the Oklahoma City Energy FC back line for the past three years, is eager to begin a new chapter in his career in the Alamo City, all the while sharing this new phase in his life with the two most important people in his life, his daughter and fiancée.
Though Hedrick was successful in Oklahoma, the Cameroon native decided to join San Antonio FC because of the organization’s values and objectives, which align perfectly with his. For Hedrick, SAFC was the natural next step to progress in his career as a player and grow as a person.
“The club’s mission and what they’re building is very special,” Hedrick said. “That along with Coach Darren’s ambition and wanting to create a really good culture in the locker room. I felt that I had something I could offer to the organization as a player.”
Hedrick’s expectations for himself are high. His motivation and determination match that of Coach Powell and SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt, and Hedrick feels that his mentality and passion will make a good contribution to the silver and black.
“[Powell and Holt] are really ambitious, and I see myself being similar,” Hedrick said. “They have high expectations of themselves and other people, and they work extremely hard, so for me it’s easy to work with people who are like-minded. I know that at this stage they want success and they’re going to bring in people who are going to help that along. It’s a blessing that they considered me as someone to bring in to help out.”
Hedrick’s motivation to perform well on the field is fueled by his daughter and fiancée, Charlotte and Kelsey, who root for him day in and day out and do their part to allow him to live the life of a professional athlete. Hedrick recently became a father and will soon become a husband, all of which has made him truly appreciate his family and the opportunities that he is able to take thanks to them.
“My fiancée is our rock,” Hedrick said. “Without her, everything would crumble. When you do what I do, sometimes it’s not easy, especially when you have to move a family. But she’s always loving and caring and very supportive of everything I do. I’m blessed to have her, she does a lot that goes unseen by others, but without her our family wouldn’t function properly. I love what I do, and without her I wouldn’t be able to do it.
“Our daughter is a crazy little kid, but just having a child and a family to provide for has brought out a different side of me. I never realized how much motivation I would draw from my daughter and fiancée, but I want to provide the world for them, and that pushes me to work as hard as I can every day. I want my daughter to have a better upbringing than I did, and that will come with the work that my fiancée and I do between now and the next 18 years.”
After spending most of his childhood in Cameroon, Hedrick and his mother moved to the United States when he was only nine years old. Though he spoke no English at the time, he quickly learned the language with the help of his mother and continued to pursue his dream of playing pro soccer. Unfortunately, Hedrick’s mother passed away when he was 16, and though the loss was difficult for him, he continued to work hard to make his mother proud.
“That was a really difficult time in my life,” Hedrick said. “But I also really do this for her, because as a kid she and I had this dream and now I’m living it. I know she would be really proud of me.”
Though his time in Oklahoma was successful, Hedrick decided that it was time for a new challenge in his career. His ambition and determination have yielded him success thus far, and now he aims to add to his achievements by excelling in San Antonio both personally and professionally.
“There’s only one real goal and that’s to win a championship,” Hedrick said. “At the end of the day we want to bring a trophy to San Antonio and that’s why I’m coming. I want to come in and do whatever I can do to help in the organization, but also in the community and on the field.”
San Antonio FC defender Cyprian Hedrick is the club’s first new signing ahead of the 2017 season. The 27-year-old, who was a crucial part of the Oklahoma City Energy FC back line for the past three years, is eager to begin a new chapter in his career in the Alamo City, all the while sharing this new phase in his life with the two most important people in his life, his daughter and fiancée.
Though Hedrick was successful in Oklahoma, the Cameroon native decided to join San Antonio FC because of the organization’s values and objectives, which align perfectly with his. For Hedrick, SAFC was the natural next step to progress in his career as a player and grow as a person.
“The club’s mission and what they’re building is very special,” Hedrick said. “That along with Coach Darren’s ambition and wanting to create a really good culture in the locker room. I felt that I had something I could offer to the organization as a player.”
Hedrick’s expectations for himself are high. His motivation and determination match that of Coach Powell and SAFC Managing Director Tim Holt, and Hedrick feels that his mentality and passion will make a good contribution to the silver and black.
“[Powell and Holt] are really ambitious, and I see myself being similar,” Hedrick said. “They have high expectations of themselves and other people, and they work extremely hard, so for me it’s easy to work with people who are like-minded. I know that at this stage they want success and they’re going to bring in people who are going to help that along. It’s a blessing that they considered me as someone to bring in to help out.”
Hedrick’s motivation to perform well on the field is fueled by his daughter and fiancée, Charlotte and Kelsey, who root for him day in and day out and do their part to allow him to live the life of a professional athlete. Hedrick recently became a father and will soon become a husband, all of which has made him truly appreciate his family and the opportunities that he is able to take thanks to them.
“My fiancée is our rock,” Hedrick said. “Without her, everything would crumble. When you do what I do, sometimes it’s not easy, especially when you have to move a family. But she’s always loving and caring and very supportive of everything I do. I’m blessed to have her, she does a lot that goes unseen by others, but without her our family wouldn’t function properly. I love what I do, and without her I wouldn’t be able to do it.
“Our daughter is a crazy little kid, but just having a child and a family to provide for has brought out a different side of me. I never realized how much motivation I would draw from my daughter and fiancée, but I want to provide the world for them, and that pushes me to work as hard as I can every day. I want my daughter to have a better upbringing than I did, and that will come with the work that my fiancée and I do between now and the next 18 years.”
After spending most of his childhood in Cameroon, Hedrick and his mother moved to the United States when he was only nine years old. Though he spoke no English at the time, he quickly learned the language with the help of his mother and continued to pursue his dream of playing pro soccer. Unfortunately, Hedrick’s mother passed away when he was 16, and though the loss was difficult for him, he continued to work hard to make his mother proud.
“That was a really difficult time in my life,” Hedrick said. “But I also really do this for her, because as a kid she and I had this dream and now I’m living it. I know she would be really proud of me.”
Though his time in Oklahoma was successful, Hedrick decided that it was time for a new challenge in his career. His ambition and determination have yielded him success thus far, and now he aims to add to his achievements by excelling in San Antonio both personally and professionally.
“There’s only one real goal and that’s to win a championship,” Hedrick said. “At the end of the day we want to bring a trophy to San Antonio and that’s why I’m coming. I want to come in and do whatever I can do to help in the organization, but also in the community and on the field.”
