Soccer season has begun here at Rick Reedy High School. The freshmen have experienced changes going from middle school to high school athletics.
High school athletics is a significant step up from middle school. Athletes have faced adversity from the beginning, but this is likely the biggest step up due to harder practices and playing multiple opponents every week.
Athletes’ interests in soccer came from different sources of inspiration. Freshman Tayem Metwally said,”Growing up I saw a lot of clips of Ronaldo, Messi, and other famous soccer players playing. It inspired me a lot because I wanted to be like them and it really changed me. I loved seeing their confidence and how they wanted to win.”
Athletes’ inspirations didn’t just come from the pros; they came from family as well.
“My sister caused me to have an interest in soccer because she was always playing when she was younger and I would go and watch and play on the sideline,” freshman Logan Schroder said.
Once athletes made it to high school, a lot of them decided to try out. While it might’ve seemed like it would’ve been a challenge, athletes described them as easier than expected.
“The tryout process was basically like a middle school tryout and it was actually pretty easy. It was basically just small sided games,” freshman Taylor Settles said.
Even though tryouts might have been easier than expected, athletes have said practices have definitely been a step up from middle school.
“I would say practice is definitely harder because we play 2 different people each week, so we take a lot more time, watch film, and then practice to play against those opponents, compared to middle school where we just practice,” freshmen Hayden Thaggard said.
Practices have definitely been harder, but athletes have kept up and have high expectations for the season.
“I actually think we’re going to do pretty well, I see us making a run in the playoffs,so hopefully it can be a far run,” Thaggard said.
Other athletes share similar hopes, but are also wanting to just give their best effort as possible during the season.
“I want to win every game and try our hardest, but if we lose all that matters is that we tried our hardest,” Metwally said.
