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If anyone is living the dream, it’s Ryan Hunsucker. Hunsucker, an incoming senior at Westfield High School, is beginning his second year moonlighting as a full-time player with the Indy Eleven soccer team. And wow, does he have a full schedule.
A lifelong soccer player, Hunsucker spent his childhood honing skills on the field. Since second grade, he has been connected with Indy Eleven as part of their Indy Fire program, which eventually became the Indy Eleven Academy. From there, he continued playing with the league, learning from experienced players and developing a deeper love for the game.
Last year, his talent reached new heights, and he was quickly recruited the summer before his junior year. Fast forward to today, and Hunsucker has spent an entire year training as a goalie with Indianapolis’s professional soccer team.
So what does a day in the life look like for a high schooler gone pro? It’s busy, to say the least. Hunsucker’s day starts early. He goes to school for his first class of the day. For second and third periods, he makes his way to the training facility to train with the team. He returns to school for fourth period and finishes his day. After school, he takes online classes for the periods he missed due to training, sometimes wrapping up just shy of dinner time. Early to bed, wash, rinse, repeat.
Despite these very full days, Hunsucker wouldn’t trade it for anything. “Being part of the team has been a huge opportunity, but it’s changed things and made me a lot busier. Before I joined the team, I would be free after school. Now, I have to find time for training and school. It’s a fair trade-off in my opinion and has been worth it,” Hunsucker says.
Hunsucker signed a contract as a backup goalie in the summer of 2024. Since then, he has dressed for several home games and experienced the roar of the crowds in downtown Indianapolis. Currently, he has yet to join the team on the road but hopes to have that experience in the coming years. For now, Hunsucker plans to keep to his training schedule, continue honing his skills, and stay focused on the game.
As of right now, he lives for game days and loves the razor-sharp focus the team exudes as soon as they enter the locker room, prepping for the match ahead.
“One of the biggest things I see in professional soccer is how players carry themselves. It’s really inspiring to see how everyone approaches the games. From the second they arrive at the facility, they’re completely locked in, two hours before the game even starts,” he says. He hopes that same focus will keep him on the path toward future professional play.
Hunsucker will attend IU in the fall of 2026. He hopes to one day bring home a national championship for Indianapolis. “I just think that would be an amazing experience, bringing home a national win. Above all else, I’m just so grateful for this life-changing opportunity,” he says.
To learn more about Indy Eleven and view their schedule, visit indyeleven.com.
