Kris Fletcher ’23 has signed a contract with the Major League Soccer team D.C. United. In this Q&A, Kris explains how he will balance his professional career with his ongoing studies at Landon. 

Q: Congratulations! How are you feeling about your move to the world of professional sports? 

A: Thank you. I feel confident. I feel good. I feel happy because it’s kind of the first step in my professional journey, but the work just started, so I can’t get too ahead of myself yet.  

Q: Why did you make the decision to turn pro? 

A: I wanted to go overseas when I was 18. When I started playing with Loudoun, which is D.C. United’s second team, I started getting a feel for wanting to play on a first team as early as possible. When D.C. United first offered me that contract, it was kind of set in my mind that I needed to start now. It made sense to sign. Also, because Wayne Rooney became the coach. They have players like Christian Benteke, Victor Palsson, Ravel Morrison. So, there are players that I can learn from and take their advice to move my career forward. 

Q: What impact do you think playing for the Bears had on you in preparing you for this moment? 

A: The school has such a strong sense of brotherhood. Being on a team with all my friends, they were more than just teammates. They’re really like my brothers, so it really helped me gain a stronger love for the sport because I felt like I was playing with people that always had my back. That really strengthened my love for the sport, honestly.  

Q: You will still be a Landon student; how do you feel about being in the ten-year club and being able to graduate from here while you take this next step? 

A: It feels so good to finish my time in high school at Landon because I’ve been here since Third Grade. There’s no other place I want to finish other than this school! Landon kind of raised me. It makes me really happy that I’m able to finish here.  

Q: How do you plan to balance playing on a professional team and focusing on your studies? 

A: The help from my advisors and my teachers has made it a lot easier for me to manage that balance, between having training every morning and being in that professional environment and handling my schoolwork as well. I think the biggest piece is communication. It has made it very manageable.  

Q: What will you miss the most about playing on Landon’s soccer team? 

A: I’m not going to lie, it was a little sad because I’ve been with this team since my freshman year, and it holds a special place in my heart. I’ll be the manager, try to help with coaching, and do what I can.  

Q: What is your favorite memory from your time on the team? 

A: Probably the Georgetown Prep game, the first one last year on our home field on Prindle when we won 3-1. That game was crazy.