Knightly News

“I thank God for getting me to this point in my life.” David Olinde ’25

Episcopal’s David Olinde recently announced he’ll continue his soccer journey at Millsaps College. David says he chose Millsaps because it had a familiar feeling. “It reminds me of Episcopal and they really make it feel like home,” he says.

David has played soccer since he was little and says the opportunity to keep competing is a “blessing and reward” for all he’s overcome and accomplished. David suffered an ACL tear playing football before the start of his junior season. “Many athletes never make it back to playing 100%, but I made it my mission to come back better than I was before,” he says. “I worked hard without a team or coach to push me and recovered in 8 months as opposed to the expected 9-12 months. I overcame mental and physical hardships that made me into the man I am today.”

After accomplishing so much, David has much for which to be grateful. He advises classmates with a similar goal to ignore those who say it can’t be done. “Put yourself out there and try things that you don’t see people around you doing,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to be judged because your purpose means more than their opinions. Most importantly, when you get knocked down get up and try again.”

Head soccer coach Kiran Booluck is proud of David and his work to recover from the injury. “He has shown character, resilience and determination to make sure he comes back bigger and stronger than ever- this was shown throughout this season where David led the team as a captain on and off the field,” he says. “David has shown what hard work can achieve with him signing to play soccer in college. He is a model student athlete and multi-sport athlete. We are extremely proud of him and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

In addition to playing soccer for the Knights, David plays club soccer and runs track.

With such grit and dedication to a goal, David is sure to succeed at Millsaps and beyond. Join us in wishing him well on this next stage of his journey. Share a comment with him in the comments section below.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.