Grade: Senior 

School: Wright City 

How long have you been playing soccer?

“I have played since I was six, so a really long time, about 10-12 years.”

Did you play any other sports growing up?

“I played a little bit of volleyball in middle school, but I didn’t keep going in high school because I wanted to focus on soccer. It was really time consuming for me.”

What position do you play?

“For high school, I play the striker position which is different for me because during my club season I’m usually a defender. I most commonly play wing back, so it’s definitely a change going to high school, but here I usually play the center striker and then sometimes in games I’ll move back to center mid to help out back there if we need it.”

What is your go-to move to get around a defender?

“I use a pull-back a lot or an outside chop.” 

What are your goals for your senior season?

“My biggest goal for the season is to have a winning season— to win at least half of our games. I know it’s been a goal for a while and I’m really optimistic about this year. I’m hoping we’ll be able to do that. Our schedule is looking pretty good for it. So, definitely have a winning season, that’s a team goal, and then districts. Our district came out recently so we’re hoping to win a round of districts. Last year, we were really close. A personal goal I have for myself is to hit 75 career goals and right now I’m at 53.”

What has your role as team captain meant to you?

“It’s meant a lot. Being a new program, it was only around a year before I came. I kind of helped enroll the things I know about soccer. With the coaching change and learning new perspectives, I feel like I’m able to share what I know with the team. But I’ve almost learned as much playing here as I have playing with my club team. It’s just a totally different experience and being able to help give what I know and get that back from them has been really eye-opening.” 

How is your club soccer team different from your high school team?

“It’s not a higher level but we’re playing teams that are the same level as us. So coming to high school and then having bigger schools and smaller schools and constantly making the adjustment. Like, oh we’re playing North Point versus we’re playing the homeschool team, we’re playing two different levels of soccer. So we’re always changing our style of play and changing how we go about a game, where for club it’s pretty strict and consistent. So definitely learning how to make those adjustments and developing a relationship with my teammates so all of us are able to work together whether we play a school that’s three times our size or we’re playing a school that’s smaller than us, we can work together and get through that.” 

What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to for soccer?

“The summer of 2023 I went to Virginia for nationals and we won, so that was probably my favorite trip. It was in June so it was really hot outside but we went to Virginia and we were there for five days, and then we won the national championship so that was a really good moment and it was just a good trip in general.” 

What achievements in your soccer career are you most proud of?

“That one, we won the national championship in 2023. We also won state in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Winning state was really cool. And then soccer-wise, my first year playing (in high school) we played one of our rivals, I believe it was Winfield and we were kind of expected to lose that game. It was one of our last home games and we went into double overtime PK’s and we won so that game was really fun too. Definitely breaking the career goal record having 53 and then the in-season record having 31 goals last year here was a big achievement.” 

Do you prefer scoring a goal or getting an assist?

“In the game, I don’t really care which one I get as long as we get there as a team. I remember one game last year, we were up 3-0 and we ended up winning 5-0 but I had three goals and an assist and I preferred the assist over my three goals. I assisted to Norma Diego who was on the team and her face after and the celebration, we still talk about it this season. So definitely in moments like that it’s the assist that matters to me.”

Have you given any consideration to continuing your soccer career beyond the high school level?

“I am. I committed three weeks ago to Quincy University in Illinois, so I’ll finish playing there.” 

Do you have a pregame routine?

“I have a permanent bracelet so I always tape my wrist. I usually write something on it. With our most recent game, it was St. Patrick’s Day so I wrote something about that. I’ve always been told to play the next play, like the next play is what matters so sometimes I put that on there.” 

Do you have any superstitions before a game?

“I have to put my right shoe on before my left— that’s really important.” 

Are there any players or figures in soccer that you’ve looked up to?

“Not any professional players really. I’ve always looked up in the sport to my parents, they always come to every game. So I just know I kind of look up to playing for them. They’ve supported me in everything that I’ve done, so every game I try and play for them. Especially my mom, I look up to them a lot.” 

What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned through playing soccer?

“I feel like I’ve made so many good connections with people. I’ve met my best friends through soccer. I’ve definitely learned a lot but it’s also been a struggle and it hasn’t always been great. I found a lot in who I feel like I can lean on. Sometimes if I get pretty negative, the next play thing, just keep going, things will get better and just always keep moving forward. Also finding the good in stuff, like even if we lose a game but we’re playing someone that we weren’t supposed to win like, we only lost 3-0.” 

Do you have a favorite sports memory?

“I think traveling in general, and then the bus rides here. I always love riding the bus to games because we’ll talk about the game but then we’ll also just have fun and listen to music. Getting ready for games is always fun. We always meet in Mollis’ room and we do each other’s hair. Like our game this Thursday is our home-opener and we’re all gonna wear pink. Having a bond with your teammates, especially when they’re different ages. Like I have a lot of close friends that are juniors that I don’t see during school, but through soccer I’m able to hang out with new people. We just have a bond, like yeah we haven’t known each other that long but we’re still really good friends.”