Richmond High School 2026 senior Ben Holliday, one of the area’s best soccer players, is preparing for a unique summer opportunity that will take his game overseas before he begins his collegiate soccer career this fall at Anderson University.
This summer, Holliday will train and compete for two weeks in Spain as a member of Select Generation Academy, an elite soccer academy designed to prepare top North American players for the next level. The program provides selected athletes with advanced training, international competition, and exposure to collegiate and professional pathways.
Holliday was selected for the opportunity by Select Generation co-founder Sam Henneberg, a former NCAA Division I and semiprofessional soccer player who established the organization with Vicor Cascon as a global talent identification agency. The opportunity highlights Holliday’s status as one of the region’s top players and provides valuable preparation before his transition to collegiate soccer.
Following his international experience, Holliday will relocate to Anderson in August to officially begin his collegiate career as a member of the Anderson University Ravens, having signed his National Letter of Intent on March 5.
Holliday’s soccer journey began early. He started playing the sport at age three and has been coached for much of his life by his father, Ryan Holliday, a 1994 Richmond High School alumnus and former collegiate soccer player at the University of Indianapolis. Ryan served as an assistant coach during the 2024 season and was promoted to head coach of the Richmond High School boys soccer team for the 2025 season.
Holliday’s resume extends well beyond school competition. He represented the Indiana State Team through the Olympic Development Program for four years, competing against top players from across the region and nation. He also currently plays in the Premier Division, the highest level of the Indiana Soccer League.
During his time at Richmond High School, Holliday compiled an impressive list of athletic accolades, including East Central Indiana Most Valuable Player, Team MVP, two First Team All-Conference selections, Second Team All-District, Second Team All-Conference and two All-Academic Player awards, as well as the Top Team Player Award, Varsity Leadership Award and Newcomer of the Year Award.
As a First Team All-Conference selection, Holliday led the conference in offensive production, finishing second in goals scored and tied for first in assists. As the East Central Indiana MVP, he led the region in total points with 18 goals and 17 assists.
A version of this article appeared in the May 27 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
