Wildcat Soccer Seniors On State Goals and Leadership

In their senior seasons at Livingston Academy, soccer captains Ella Copeland and Taryn Childers said they are cherishing their last season and have their eyes on returning to the state tournament.

When Copeland and Childers were sophomores on the team, the 2022 Wildcats put together a 19-2 season and made it to the state final game before losing to back-to-back champions Page. And while the pair think this year’s team has the same potential, the final result isn’t their main focus.

“I think just having fun,” Childers said. “I feel like everyone tries to be like ‘oh it’s so competitive! Go, go, go’ But I think just having fun out there too is why we’re playing right now. So, having fun and going to state, I think would be super cool. It was such a cool experience our sophomore year, so I think that would definitely be a big goal for us.”

Childers and Copeland said they both look back at their time as underclassmen with fond memories and the upperclassmen provided a blue print of what it means to be a leader on this team. Ella’s older sister, Lilly Copeland, was a senior on the team who lost her season due to a torn acl, Childers said that after not playing as a freshman, Lilly took her under her wing and made her a better player.

“My sophomore year her sister, Lilly Copeland was like my idol my sophomore year,” Childers said. “And even though, like Ella said, she didn’t play she was always rooting for everyone and always showing really good leadership skills.”

Copeland said it was a cool experience to be on the same team as Lily and watching her be a valuable asset to the team without playing highlighted the importance of strong leadership. Childers said that being a leader on this year’s team is something she enjoys, but it didn’t come naturally.

“I don’t think anyone can just naturally be a leader, but I think it comes with looking up to people,” Childers said. “And knowing like ‘that’s what I need to do when I’m in that spot’ I just think you have to look up to someone and then you gain those attributes.”

With last year seeing many starting lineup spots open up due to seniors graduating, Copeland said she has seen the underclassmen grow since their summer practices both on the pitch and in their confidence on the team.

“But I feel like both the freshman and the sophomores, they’ve both really stepped it up this year,” Copeland said. “We have three or four freshman and sophomores that start, so they’re very valuable for our team.”

With the Wildcats standing at 3-1-2 entering September, the pair’s goal of state is certainly in play. This week Livingston Academy only plays one game and will face the undefeated Franklin County at home August 29.