STATESBORO, Ga. – In January, Tormenta FC announced the signing of defender Jake Dengler for the 2022 League One season. Dengler comes to Tormenta FC with experience and leadership from the USL Championship and excelling NCAA D1 Programs like Loyola University of Maryland and the University of Connecticut. Learn more about our newest signing off the pitch below with our Q&A series.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN FOOTBALL?
I actually got my start in football because it was the only sport my parents could sign me up for when I was young. I fell in love with the sport instantly. My mom always took a ton of pictures of me growing up with the soccer ball at my feet so I love looking back on those.
WHAT DOES THIS SPORT MEAN TO YOU?
The sport has given me everything I could’ve ever asked for and more, so it means a lot to me. Everything in my life has always revolved around football. It has taken me to places I would’ve never imagined I’d be. If I’m able to keep playing this sport while meeting new amazing people, traveling the world, and constantly creating memories that will last a lifetime, I’ll be able to look back on my career with a smile.
WHO IS THE PERSON YOU LOOK UP TO THE MOST?
I don’t have a singular person for this one. I idolize both my parents, they have given my brothers and me everything we could’ve asked for to live a happy and healthy life. We never noticed when they were struggling, and now that their marriage took them down two completely different roads, I’ve admired them more than ever. My mom is constantly traveling and fishing in different competitive tournaments around the world, and my dad moved down to his dream area in Punta Gorda, Florida.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OFF THE PITCH?
When I’m not playing football, I love competing in really anything with my brothers, whether that’s ping pong, golf, board games, video games, any type of backyard game, bowling, fishing, the list goes on. When they aren’t around, I love hiking new areas, playing rocket league and Fortnite on my Xbox, and reading.
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO LEARN THIS SEASON?
During my time at Tormenta, I’m really hoping to take the next steps in becoming a great leader on and off the field. Top to bottom, each person I’ve met in the Tormenta organization is an amazing person, and I know I can learn a lot from them, so I’m going into this journey one day a time trying to learn as much as I can about myself while taking it all in.
WHAT CAN THE COMMUNITY EXPECT FROM YOU THIS YEAR?
The community should be ready for a lot of excitement in Statesboro. I’m really hoping I can make as much of a mark off the field as I will on the field. If I can be the player/person that sparks a young athlete’s dream to be like me one day then I will have done a good job. I have the responsibility of representing the Tormenta FC name, so I have to watch both my actions on the field and off the field then I will consider my time in Statesboro a success.
I hope we can give the community and fans the season they deserve and have been waiting for this year. That way we can keep them all excited to continue to support this amazing club.
WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE CITY OF STATESBORO?
I would say I bring a fun, optimistic, and genuine personality that will come into Statesboro with a lot of excitement. That goes way beyond football to me, the connections off the pitch as well as on it. I’m looking forward to meeting Tormenta Nation out and about so they truly feel the family connection when they come to games.