See Heartland Region Top 20 - Boys | Girls

Over the past four years, Carly Cassady has pulled a hamstring; fractured her acromion (that?s a part of the shoulder blade for those who have a life and don?t know) and battled not only mononucleosis, but tonsillitis as well.

Yeah, she?s kind of resilient - which means that even if we didn?t have her ranked in our Heartland Region Top 20 Rankings, she?d probably find a way to get there. (But we do have you ranked in our 2011 class Carly, so please don?t run through any walls to prove yourself. You?ve been through enough).

?I have had many setbacks in my career and I?ve always come back better than when I left, and I think it has made me a stronger player,? Cassady said. ?I am very determined, and that has gotten me where I am today.?

Where she is today is positioned as one of the premier attackers in her region. A left-footed player, Cassady is a good athlete who also runs track.

Her goal this season is to help her team reach the U.S. Youth Soccer Nationals as well as the finals in the ECNL.

There will be obstacles along the way but no one is more equipped to taking them on then Cassady.

?My motivation is when people underestimate me or tell me I can?t do something,? she said.

Today?s Top 20 Heartland Rankings are littered with players who are similar world-beaters, like: Kaysie Clark (2011), Nicole Breece (2012), Kaitlyn Clark (2013) and Madeline Elliston (2014).

The men?s side features players like Nick Besler (2011), Gabe Christianson (2012), Seo-In Kim (2013), Elijah Brower (2014), Brendan McDonough (2015) and Logan Lucas (2016).

See Heartland Region Top 20 - Boys | Girls