Interview with SHS Soccer Player Kaitlynn Long
Welcome back to the fall sports edition of Off the Reels. This talented senior athlete just finished her high school soccer career with a team District Runner-Up finish.
Meet SHS Soccer Player Kaitlynn Long…
Soccer story:
Kaitlynn started playing soccer when she was just three years old. From playing through the YMCA, the local Springboro recreational league, all the way up to a competitive club team, she’s done it all. She grew up also playing basketball, but knew she was going to stick with soccer after she played for NWC Alliance. “My coaches at NWC really inspired me to continue playing and getting better. They always encouraged me to keep working.”
Position on the team:
Kaitlynn plays center and outside forward. Her speed and natural athleticism allow her to contribute to her team’s success by scoring and assisting goals. As a senior, she leads her team by helping to instill different qualities into her teammates such as communication, accountability, and problem solving.
Strengths and weaknesses:
“My biggest strength is my quick speed and ability to score in high intensity situations. My weakness is my size because I tend to be a lot smaller than the rest of the girls.”
Pre-game rituals:
Before every game, the first thing Kaitlynn does is take a nap after school and eat her favorite pasta. A superstition she has is she always has to wear purple pre-wrap as her headband during games.
What makes soccer so difficult:
“Every team and game is different. There are so many different formations and tactics teams use that cause you to learn how to adjust how you will play against each one. The best way I deal with this is by quickly noticing the open space on the field and making runs into that space.”
Favorite high school game:
Kaitlynn describes how the Milford game in the District Semi-Finals her junior year was the most memorable because it showed the amount of progress her team had made. “Our team can be set apart from the rest because we’re like one big family on and off the field. We push and lift each other up every single practice and hold each other accountable.”
Favorite memory:
In their game this year against Lakota West, one of Kaitlynn’s teammates received a yellow card from the referee and was told to “go take a seat” (meaning on the bench). Instead, she sat down in the middle of the field.
Accomplishments:
Kaitlynn’s best game was when she scored all three goals for the Panthers against Bellbrook. “In that moment, I really felt like I could see my hard work paying off.” She also finished her senior season by scoring over 100 goals throughout her high school career.
Advice for other soccer players:
“Always be the hardest working player on and off the field, and when you start to doubt yourself, never give up.”
Congratulations to Kaitlynn on a great high school soccer career and to the rest of the team on an outstanding season!
