Saint Louis University scored a true all-star with the addition of Jackson Delkus to their Men’s Soccer Team this fall. A 2024 graduate of Laurel Springs, Jackson’s incredible talent and ambition have earned him the title of #1 Nationally Ranked Men’s Soccer Player for the Fall 2024 Recruiting Season. This achievement alone is impressive…but Jackson’s accolades don’t stop there. He’s also part of Saint Louis University’s #2 recruiting class in the country, indicating that SLU has successfully attracted some of the most skilled and promising young soccer players in the nation.

Day in the Life of a Competitive Soccer Player

Jackson has always loved playing and watching sports. When he and his family realized his unique potential as a competitive soccer player, however, finding more room in his daily schedule was critical for him to evolve as an athlete.

“Laurel Springs allowed me to do extra training while also giving me more flexibility when I had to go out of town for tournaments,” he shared in an interview.

“A typical day for me when I was training at the Academy at St. Louis City Soccer Club looked like this: training on my own in the morning, doing school afterwards, then training with my team in the afternoon. That was my Monday-Thursday schedule,” Jackson continued.

“When I transitioned to St. Louis City 2, I would wake up and go to training early in the morning. Then, I’d come home around noon and do school.”

Jackson mentioned there were times when he was gone for 11 days straight, so having the flexibility to do his school work whenever he wanted was both a stress-reliever and aid to his athletic goals.

How Online Private School Supported His Ambitions

Laurel Springs offered Jackson the flexibility he needed, sure, but he shared that it also set him up for success in college.

“Laurel Springs really helped me adjust to Saint Louis University and prepared me for my first semester. I became a much stronger writer. I had a great college counselor who would help me through any NCAA recruitment or eligibility stuff that popped up. I was also really supported through the college application process.”

Finding the right balance between academics and athletics was crucial for Jackson and his family. His experience is a great illustration of the important role flexibility, personalized support, and quality education played in his overall success. With Laurel Springs’ online curriculum, Jackson was able to pursue his dreams on the soccer field while simultaneously building a strong academic foundation that prepared him for college.

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Jackson Delkus Takes on SLU and Dreams Big

A current freshman at Saint Louis University, Jackson is studying Sports Business and plans to graduate within four years.

“My ultimate goal is to play soccer professionally in Europe,” he shared. “For now, though, I want to win a national championship with my team at SLU and would love to play professionally for St. Louis City Soccer Club after I graduate.”

He went on to share that being a sporting director for a professional soccer team or a general manager for the MLB franchise are alternative dreams of his. Needless to say, Jackson is someone whose aspirations know no bounds!

Connect with Jackson and Follow His Journey

To connect with Jackson as a fellow Laurel Springs Alum, find him on LSS Alumni Connect! Those who would like to follow his athletic career and watch the SLU Men’s Soccer Team take on other top U.S. recruits this fall can friend him on Instagram and X.

Keep shining, Jackson! We’re so proud of you and are cheering you on every step of the way!

About Laurel Springs School

Laurel Springs is a fully accredited, online private school for K-12 students. With a premier college-prep curriculum – including AP® and Honors courses, and the AP Capstone Diploma™ Program – an ever-expanding schedule of in-person and virtual events, and a global community spanning over 100 countries, we’re ranked as one of the best online private schools in the nation. Join us for a Virtual Open House to learn more and we’ll waive your $300 enrollment registration fee!

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