Varsity players set sights on future

Three hours. Two hundred miles. That’s how how long it takes to travel from Lewisville, Texas to Bethany, Oklahoma. For senior Micaela Owen, it’s a small town she knows all too well. Home to her favorite diner, numerous childhood soccer camps and the school she will soon represent: Southern Nazarene University. “I grew up going to camps there, my family lives extremely close,” Owen said. ...

A 7-year-old boy wakes up early every day so he can have a couple of minutes to gaze upon the empty spot next to his dad’s blue and black football uniform wishing for a chance to be like him. At recess he practices honing in on his skills to become a wide receiver. At the end of the season his dream started to blossom. He would spend days and nights practicing with guys he would soon think of...

She sits on the bench, wind blowing through her hair, as she slips on her cleats. She walks onto the field with a strong stance and adrenaline rushes through her body ready to defend the ball. While she approaches her position, she drowns out the sound of cheering from the stands. Senior Amber Crews started off playing T-ball as a young girl but games quickly became too leisurely and lengthy for...

The chilly February breeze blows against her cheeks and the sound of shoes kicking a soccer ball around makes the crowd buzz with anticipation. She runs through the dewy grass as she makes an attempt to steal the ball back. Her opponent sweeps her legs out and hits her on the knee. As she loses her balance, she falls onto the damp ground, clutching her leg. The hit sent an all-too-familiar sharp pain ...

A cool air whisps through the opening of his helmet. His sweat-drenched uniform brings shivers to his overheated body. The football field lights beam onto the players as the scoreboard clock counts down the final minutes as they pass. His cleats grip the turf, this is his home terrain and he relishes the game to the crowd’s cheers as they chant their school’s fight song. Three. Two. One. Game. “It's...