The saying of, “If there’s a will, there’s a way”, has been vividly demonstrated by senior Eva Essman.
After 6 years of only running track in the spring, Eva decided she wanted to switch it up. She said, “Growing up, I did soccer for 6 years, and while I was sitting at track during my off week, I realized how much I missed it. I was drawn to it, and how much fun they looked like they were having.” Head Coach, Zach Vroman, wishes Eva would’ve come out for soccer previously.
Coach Vroman said, “Eva is a fantastic student-athlete and, yes, I would have loved to have a competitor like Eva in past seasons. She is very coachable, determined, and a true competitor. Eva can compete in any sport and be a force.” Vroman has been the Head Girls Soccer Coach for 2 seasons now. Recently, he accepted the position to be the Boys Head Soccer Coach, as well.
Being a multi-sport spring athlete does come with its challenges. Essman said, “Sometimes, I miss key things if I go to one practice, but not the other, such as a pre-meet lineup for track or pregame announcements for soccer. Soccer is much more leinient with me missing, meanwhile track is more persistent on attendance.”
Coach Vroman has supported Essman, and other athletes schedules, in saying, “This is the first season that I know of when student-athletes are able to compete in both track and soccer at the same time. It has been difficult, at times, as they are trying to juggle both sports. As long as the student-athlete is communicating with the coaches and listening to their own bodies, I am in favor of it. I love how the student-athletes get to pursue what they love and compete in multiple sports.”
Along with Essman’s dual spring sports, throughout the school year, she’s also been involved in- The Gray Matters Collective, Student Council, Rocky Riveters, National Honors Society as a Secretary, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Athlete Council, Competitive Cheer, Basketball Cheer, Football Cheer, an editor in Journalism, and running Cross Country. Essman said, “I think playing soccer in the past years would’ve been fun, but I don’t know how it would’ve worked. I feel like this year was a good year because it’s my last year to do everything, so I’ve been trying to fit it all in. It’s my action packed year. I feel like it would’ve been fun in the past years too, but I don’t know if I would’ve been able to handle it all.”
In agreement to that, Eva said, “I question everything I’m involved in all the time. I don’t consistently show up to everything because I need to sleep, so my morning events kinda get pushed to the back burner. I do enjoy doing them all, but I can’t do them all at the same time.”
Eva didn’t want to miss a single opportunity her senior year, whether it was joining another team or multiple other clubs, and Eva is putting her best foot forth into not regretting her senior year.
