By Jon Johnson
Persistent. Steady. Reliable. Such words describe Alec Palanjian in becoming a key contributor for his hometown Dothan United Dragons.
Palanjian, a 2019 Northview High School graduate who played on the college level at Auburn University-Montgomery and University of Central Arkansas, is in his third season with the Dragons, working his way from a developmental player into a part-time starter.
He attributes a stick-to-it attitude as coming from his parents, Badrig and Kim Palanjian.
“Growing up, watching the way they do things and the way they work hard and are disciplined in everything they do,” Palanjian said of an example being set. “That was instilled in me from a young age.
“I just carried that throughout my career and have that mindset that I’m never going to give in … I’m always going to give my best, and just keep going and really trust in the process.”
As a speedy attacker for the Dragons, Palanjian stays prepared to help the team in any way possible – whether in the starting lineup, coming off the bench or simply supporting his teammates.
It didn’t take long for first-year Dothan United head coach Ricky Davey to appreciate what Palanjian brings to the club.
“He’s so reliable and does the right things every day,” Davey said. “He’s so determined to be better, but also to help the group in any way possible. He’s amazing to have around, to be honest.
“You can trust him to play numerous roles on the field … he’ll give everything. From what I had heard from previous staff and people who had been around it, he’s gotten better every single year.
“He’s contributed massively to us already this year, so I’m sure there’s more to come.”
In his early years, Palanjian was also a good tennis player, thus had a decision to make once reaching the high school level since both sports have a spring season.
“I saw a future with the sport, and saw where I was really excelling in the game,” Palanjian said of concentrating on soccer and putting his tennis racket away.
His father was also a standout soccer player, having played one year on the college level at the University of South Florida and three at the University of South Carolina Upstate, where he became an All-American.
“He was massive in helping me on and off the field,” Palanjian said. “It was a good balance, though, because he was never one to force the sport on me. I think I just saw his passion for the game from a young age.”
As a high school freshman, Palanjian became involved in the Olympic Development Program, which is designed to help players reach their full potential. Palanjian believes the lessons learned through ODP continue to impact his play.
“I got selected to go try out for the team with other high-level players from all around the state,” Palanjian said. “It was a process where I went to different training camps throughout the year.
“Then, by the end of that cycle, I got selected for the team and got to go to some different camps throughout the United States, and even got to travel to Italy for nationals.
“I think personally, it just helped me to raise my level and standard in everything I do, from not only my on the field performance, but my habits off the field … anything from my nutrition, my sleep, my individual training, the way I recover.
“I would train with the Olympic Development Program a couple of times a month and I think that really helped me prepare for the college game and now Dothan United.”
Palanjian spent four years at AUM on the soccer team and earned his college degree there while majoring in Kinesiology. With soccer eligibility remaining, Palanjan then transferred to Central Arkansas.
“When I started at AUM, my freshman year was when COVID happened, so I got an extra year of eligibility,” Palanjian said. “I learned a lot there and the level of play was really high-level. Academics were great and I got my degree there.
“When that time came for me to graduate, I knew I had some eligibility and I wanted to take that next step in my life and try something new. I saw that Central Arkansas was interested and it was going to be a real step out of my comfort zone that I felt like would really benefit me. I decided to take that step and I learned a lot as a player and a person.”
During the fall of 2023 – the first of two seasons on the Central Arkansas team – Palanjian got word of a new soccer franchise forming in Dothan.
“I remember one afternoon I was sitting in my dorm room and I got a text from my good friend Gabino Morin, and he sent me the article about a minor league soccer team coming to Dothan,” Palanjian remembers.
“I called him and we talked about it … like, ‘Man, I wonder what this is?’ This was cool; this could be a real opportunity. Over the days and weeks more and more information came out about it.
“We saw a USL2 team was coming to Dothan. We were so excited and knew how much it means for us to have a high-level opportunity right here in Dothan that we had never had before.”
Palanjian and Morin, a Slocomb High School graduate, would attend the first open tryouts for Dothan United under then head coach Carl Reynolds. While he was at AUM, Palanjian got some experience on the semi-pro level by playing in the National Premier Soccer League for a team based in Panama City, Fla., which played against a team coached by Reynolds.
“My mindset going in was I knew I was going to earn my spot,” Palanjian said. “I was prepared; I was ready. I knew the demands of the level that was going to be required.
“I had played against his (Reynolds) team while I was playing for a team out of Panama City. I was familiar with the level of players he brings in and the style of play, so I think that helped me in knowing what was going to be required in me earning my spot on Dothan United.”
Palanjian and Morin both earned spots on the first Dragons’ team and have remained on the roster.
When Dothan United made its game debut at Rip Hewes Stadium to begin the 2024 season, Palanjian was among the many amazed by the immediate support from the community.
“I honestly was blown away,” Palanjian said. “When I stepped on the field for the first time and saw my family, friends and everyone in the stands, it was a really surreal moment.”
Having the role of more of a developmental player for the Dragons during his first two seasons, Palanjian soaked up everything he could.
“It helped me so much being in that high-level environment day-in and day-out during that summer of the first season,” Palanjian said. “It helped me with my sharpness and confidence going into my college season.”
Now with college behind, Palanjian gives soccer lessons on the side while continuing to play the sport he loves with the Dragons.
“I do private soccer coaching,” Palanjian said. “That’s something I love as well … coaching and helping young players develop their skills and give them insights of what it takes to play at a high level. That’s worked out well for me while I’m still in my playing career.”
Palanjian strives to set a positive example for others on the team who are trying to make their mark.
“It’s been lots of hard work – work behind the scenes, training on my own – a lot of discipline to get to this point,” Palanjian said. “Now having been at this point where I’m earning more minutes, I think for me it’s not getting complacent and to keep a high level of play and continue to set an example for some of the younger players of, ‘Hey, keep your head down, keep working, keep a good attitude, keep being a team player and your time will come.’”
Whenever the Dragons take the field for a game at Rip Hewes Stadium, Palanjian knows his family will be there in support as always has been the case.
“It means absolutely everything,” Palanjian said. “I’m very close to my family and they are so supportive. They love it as much as I do.
“I’m just truly grateful for this opportunity to be able to be in this position to represent Dothan on my hometown team. It has been a dream come true for me and I’m just enjoying every moment of it.”
