Freshman Finds Her Place on the Field

When the girls’ soccer season started, many people expected the older players to lead the way. But one freshman, Ella Awbery, has already made her name known on the field. Awbery has put time in on and off the field. She said it was scary at first. “The game is so much faster than middle school,” Awbery said. “But I just had to play my game.”

Balancing school and soccer hasn’t been easy. Practices run late, and games take up some weeknights and weekends. “Some nights I come home with homework still to do. I’ve learned to use my time wisely and stay on top of things.”

Even the day after a late match, Awbery still puts in the time to stay on top of her work. She works hard, she encourages her teammates, and she plays like she’s played with MCHS for years. One Tuesday in August, the team played Marshall County.  Awbery talked about how the most difficult part of the game was keeping the ball on their side and keeping the opponents from scoring. At the end, they came out with a well-deserved win.

Awbery already shows leadership, even though she is only a freshman. She cheers for teammates and makes sure everyone feels included. “If someone makes a mistake, I try to lift them up,” she said.

Awbery’s goals this year are simple. “I want to improve my ball control and help the team make state,” she said. “It’s not just about me scoring, it’s about us winning together.”