One of my closest friends, Sammy Taylor, is an incredible athlete. She has played all kinds of sports including basketball, soccer, and she also runs cross country. I recently chose to interview Sammy about her experiences as a soccer player from her first game all the way up to making varsity as a freshman.

Q: How long have you been playing?

A: “I started playing soccer at age five, took a break, and then I resumed at age ten.”

Q: What got you interested in soccer?

A: “My parents liked to play soccer, so they started me early, but I quit because I was afraid of the ball. It was pretty funny. But I started playing again at age ten because my friend convinced me.”

Q: What is the best part about soccer?

A: “The best part about soccer is how you can be so quick and creative with your skill. You never know what you’re gonna do or what is going to happen during a game. I always try my best during games, no matter how I’m feeling. It always cheers me up because I can just be with my friends regardless.”

Q: What is your favorite memory from a season?

A: “My favorite memory from my school season when we beat Holly Springs (who were undefeated) in overtime. Then we made it into the playoffs. My favorite memory from club was when we won our tournament at the beach, and we got to have a huge party after.”

Q: What is your favorite position and why?

A: “My favorite position to play is outside back or outside wing because you can dribble up and down the line and put crosses into the box. It is a difficult position to play, but I always practice my skill and ball control so I’m able to be an effective player.”

Q: What is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced during soccer?

A: “The biggest obstacle I faced was my aggression. I used to have trouble with contact and being physical. I was always so scared that I would get injured. Luckily, I got over that.”

Q: What is the most rewarding part about soccer?

A: “The most rewarding part of soccer is probably either the feeling you get after you know you played a good game or celebrating with teammates after winning a game. It is such a great feeling knowing you did your best. I always leave it all on the field.”

Q: Do you enjoy club soccer or school soccer more?

A: “I would say that I enjoy club soccer and school soccer equally in different ways. School soccer is more competitive, but it is so much fun to play with friends from school. We are like a big family. Club soccer is also fun because I have made so many new friends on the teams I’ve been on throughout the years. We always get to go to so many tournaments and those are my favorite.”

Q: How did you feel about playing varsity as a freshman?

A: “At first I was unsure. I did not know if I would enjoy playing Varsity, especially knowing that all my friends made JV. I didn’t think I would get a lot of playing time either. However after the season started, I found my groove, and I was able to have tons of fun. I made so many new friends. Playing on Varsity really helped me improve as a player, too.”

Sammy’s sheer grit and determination have shaped her to be the incredible player she is today. She hopes to continue her soccer journey for as long as she can.