A study hall classroom at Brownsburg high school was Chrisley Beauvais’s cafeteria of choice.
There was no deafening roar of teenagers talking. No clatter of plastic trays or the squeaking of sneakers on the ground.
Beauvais ate lunch alone.
About three years ago, he was the new freshman that didn’t know English. He was not only getting acquainted with a new school but a new country, freshly moved to the United States from his home country of Haiti. A disaster, which included gun violence, prompted his relocation abroad.
“Making friends in America was kind of difficult for me,” Beauvais said. “I was all alone because I couldn’t communicate with people. It was challenging.”
He was away from his homeland, a place where soccer is played in the streets, schoolyards or local clubs. It’s where Beauvais grinded his teeth.
Eventually, soccer became a universal language at Brownsburg. A PE teacher noticed Beauvais’ talent and reached out to Brownsburg coach Sean McGrath, who watched his game firsthand.
It was a launching pad for his high school social life and soccer career.
“Most of the time when someone tells me about someone it isn’t the greatest, like they’re OK, but Chrisley was phenomenal,” McGrath said. “He is one of the most technical and best players I have seen. You can tell that Chrisley just grew up playing soccer in the streets, wherever he could.
“If we were a professional team where there is only a small-sided game, Chrisley as a freshman would’ve possibly been my first pick. He was just a raw player and extremely talented.”
Beauvais, who speaks French, communicated with McGrath with a computer and phone used to translate. He signed up for off-season practice and joined the team at Brownsburg as a sophomore.
The walls of isolation, and the language barrier that kept him a stranger began to crumble. He made connections through the sport and surrounded himself with native English speakers. He also relied on music and movies to improve his speech.
At a time when the school said that his English wasn’t improving fast enough, soccer became the bridge to finding his voice.
“They were looking at potentially sending him to a school that would help more with the English language, but I talked with the school about how ever since Chrisley came to the soccer program, he started making friends,” McGrath said. “He started eating lunch out in the cafeteria with people. He found some other guys that were trying out for soccer that also spoke French. Since then, his English has gotten a lot better.”
Beauvais had to learn to play 11 vs. 11 soccer on a full-sided field. It’s the opposite of the small-sided game that he played in Haiti. The senior used to be a player who tried to beat a defender twice before scoring, but he has since adjusted his game. He has learned that a single move is all it takes to break through and score.
He has kept his scoring flair while being more methodical with his game. He’s an attacker that can manipulate the ball and make moves. His technique reflects years of experience on the pitch.
“I know I’m not a defender, but I’ve had to play defense on him before and I just don’t know what he’s going to do next,” said Brownsburg senior Sam Caswell. “He’s super creative, he’s full of ideas and he doesn’t only do it alone. He sets other people up really well. He’s a tinier guy but he does really well positioning himself and getting himself in front of goal.”
Beauvais will make his varsity debut during the 2026 IHSAA boys soccer season. He is expected to be a scoring piece of Brownsburg’s rotation, a team that finished with a 19-1-1 record last season and reached the Class 3A regional finals.
Beauvais earned that spot by being a workhorse. Over the summer, he split time between morning soccer practice and night shifts at Kroger. He’s a regular at 6 a.m. training. He is a locker room favorite, powered by an unbreakable spirit. His positive energy is rooted in his love for soccer, a game that has given him friendships and a grasp of the English language.
“When we are on a soccer team, we are a family because we’re all connected,” Beauvais said. “We all care for each other. I can say the soccer team right now is my second family because that’s where I pass most of my time … Even if we don’t have practice, we hang out sometimes so that makes me feel happy.”
Beauvais watched the 2026 FIFA World Cup with his teammates and used it as a learning opportunity. He is a student of the game that is still pressing forward even after making Brownsburg’s varsity team. He said he wants to make McGrath proud of his decision to move him up from JV.
He wants to earn a soccer scholarship to play college ball and receive a degree. He is hopeful that his senior season will lead to that opportunity. His ultimate dream is to represent the Haitian national team and understands there’s a grind that goes into that process.
Over the course of summer games, Beauvais stepped into the starting lineup and provided energy off the bench. He is still coming into his own as a high school player. He trusts the process in his pursuit of soccer excellence, ready to unleash his potential this season starting on Aug. 15.
“Coach sees something in me,” Beauvais said. “That’s why I’m on the team, so I can make it to a different level. I got to work hard, practice every day and then be the best I can be.”
Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at marc.ray@indystar.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: From Haiti to Brownsburg, senior Chrisley Beauvais found community in high school soccer
Reporting by Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
