Hudson Valley Athlete Featured in Nike Ad, Signs Pro Contract

A Hudson Valley athlete recently appeared in a Nike ad and signed a professional contract.

Sebastian Gordon-Somers-Archer was recently chosen by Nike to appear in a commercial. The SUNY New Paltz Men's Soccer standout was chosen for the Nike's Future Varsity Program headlined #UntilWeAllWin.

During Black History Month, Nike chose 14 people ages 13-26 who made an impact in their local community through sport. Gordon-Somers-Archer's grandparents live in Kingston, Jamaica and for the past few summers, he's volunteered for Mustard Seed Communities, which is a foster home for children with disabilities or who have been infected with HIV/Aids and have been abandoned by their families.

Gordon-Somers-Archer also currently works for Home of Champions, a Hudson Valley non-profit organization which will soon be a home base for children who grew out of the foster care system and have nowhere to turn. The home is located at Floyd Patterson's old Hudson Valley home.

"Having been selected was an amazing experience," Gordon-Somers-Archer told Hudson Valley Post in an email. "The opportunity to meet so many influential people (from Maya Moore to Mallory Pugh to Amandla Stenburg) was one that I'll never forget. Nike is so welcoming and truly want to see people thrive for the work that they put in. Whether it was in Atlanta during the programs first weekend or back in New York where I got to tour their offices, being able to speak and give advice to so many amazing crowds is something that I'll never forget. You don't expect to have opportunities like this so the fact that they actually come to fruition just proves that good things will come to people who have the right mindset."

On top of that, Gordon-Somers-Archer recently signed a professional soccer contract with FC Miami City of the USL League Two.

"It feels amazing. Growing up, everyone always tells you, 'continue to play soccer, enjoy it, never give it up,' and that is what I kind of did," Gordon-Somers-Archer said on the SUNY New Paltz athletics website. "Then being given this opportunity after having such a successful season with this program and then continue and being able to try out for teams – having that opportunity alone is the most gratifying and awesome experience. It makes it better that I never thought it would happen. It happens and then it's like, 'Wow. This is actually for real.'"

Gordon-Somers-Archer is training for the upcoming season and will join his team after graduating from SUNY New Paltz this May.

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"Although I'm nervous I'm equally as excited to show the league what a New Paltz Men's Soccer alum can bring to the table," he told Hudson Valley Post.

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