10/02/2026
Last night was bittersweet for me as a coach. We won, but it was senior night, and six girls played their last home game at South Ripley. As a coach, I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to coach the seniors for two years. As a new soccer coach, I learned so much from the seniors. They helped me grow as a coach by challenging me to be a better leader every day. I learned to be more patient as I gave directions for new drills, to show sportsmanship to every team no matter the situation, and to always have fun!
While this group of seniors has accomplished a lot on the field, their biggest accomplishment is their sportsmanship. They will ask every team to pray before the game at midfield. They have done this as a team for two years before every game. No matter the score or the opportunity on the field, when a player goes down with an injury, they kick the ball out of bounds. They are more worried about their opponent's health than scoring a goal. That character is why I love coaching this team.
This has been a tough year for them, but they have kept fighting through bumps and bruises and show up every day with a good attitude and effort. They have recruited hard in school to make sure we have enough players every year. I know each of these six girls will excel in life because of the work ethic and attitude they show every day at practice and in games. Ladies, if you ever need anything, do not hesitate to reach out and ask for help, and I can’t wait to see what you achieve in the future!
Stats from last night:
Lady Raiders 3
Lady Rebels 1
Goals by Madi Melton (2) and Ellie Combs, with an assist.
