Briggs began playing soccer as a preschooler and very quickly emerged as a standout among his peers. One of his parents’ favorite early memories comes from his first-ever team tryout in kindergarten. At the time, he was attending a different school and didn’t know any of the other players yet—and because he was growing his hair long to donate to charity, he showed up with long, straight blonde hair. He was quiet, humble, and didn’t draw much attention to himself. Then he stepped onto the field and absolutely dominated the tryout. Parents on the sidelines were whispering that they thought he must have been a player from Europe. It’s still a story his family laughs about today.
 
Throughout his early and mid-elementary school years, Briggs continued developing as a forward while balancing two demanding sports: travel soccer and AAA hockey. While living in Michigan, he played for the Rochester Lightning, where his speed, field awareness, and ability to finish plays consistently set him apart.
 
When the family relocated to Southwest Florida, Briggs joined Florida West FC, one of the region’s most competitive youth programs. Playing in Florida gave him exposure to a faster-paced, highly technical style of soccer, and he thrived in that environment. He trained and competed year-round while simultaneously maintaining his commitments to AAA hockey—something that required a high level of discipline, time management, and resilience for an athlete his age.
 
Eventually, the schedule demands forced Briggs to choose one primary sport, and he selected hockey. But he always found ways to keep soccer in his life. In sixth grade, he earned one of only two walk-on positions on his middle school soccer team—an opportunity that allowed him to stay connected to the game he loved.
 
When Briggs enrolled at Eaglebrook School, soccer became a meaningful part of his athletic experience once again. As an 8th grader, he made the Varsity Soccer Team, competing against older athletes and demonstrating maturity well beyond his age. His combination of speed, physicality, and coachability made him an immediate asset to the team.

Even though hockey is now his primary sport, soccer remains a foundational part of who Briggs is as an athlete. The sport helped shape his acceleration, agility, footwork, field vision, and competitive instincts — all of which directly enhance his performance on the ice today.