Bernardi signs with King University

And, on Monday morning, it all came full-circle. With friends and family around, Bernardi signed to continue his soccer career for the next four years, signing with King University.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Bernardi said. “I started when I was eight. It was something I didn’t really know if I wanted to do, but it was just something to do for fun. But over the years it has turned into something serious, I wanted to do it and had a passion for it. I just continued to pursue it. I never really thought I would be collegiate level because at my clubs there was always someone better, which in life that is the case too. But that is what motivated me and push myself harder and I actually have started over some people that were much better than me in the beginning.

“Over the years, it has become more competitive for me and pushing myself and those around me. It’s a big moment because I have been doing it since I was eight and knew I wanted to go to college and now it is coming true.”

Bernardi fell in love with the school during his recruitment period. It wasn’t just one thing, Bernardi said, that sold him. It was the school in general.

“The school atmosphere, it’s a close-knit and small,” Bernardi said. “When you look at it and the buildings, it looks big but it’s small, it only has like 900 students. So, I like the fact that it is close-knit. And then the teachers as well. You can have one-on-one time with less students, so I like that as well. The academics are great too and a great D-II soccer program.”

Now knowing where he will be spending the next four years, Bernardi turns his focus to his senior season. Bernardi said he will use this season to shape his game more for the college level, but also to become more of a leader.

“I just want to be a true role model,” Bernardi said. “Prior years, I kind of was (a role model); I was a quiet guy but said things when it needed to be said. But now, I feel more confident, so I am going to go in with more of a positive attitude, more of a leadership role. I feel like we are going to have a winning season with the team we have coming in.”

This senior season means even more for Bernardi after not getting his junior season due to COVID. Now, he finally has one more season, something he has been working towards since his junior season got cut short.

“I am really excited,” Bernardi said. “We didn’t have the junior season because of COVID so there was a few months in there that we didn’t have soccer but during that time is when I decided to really push myself and reach out to colleges because I knew my chances were slimmer because you can’t really go in the season but I learned how to grind.”