By Michelle Jaret
Special Features Editor ’04
Though the United States is one of the countries in the world that appreciates soccer the very least, that doesn’t mean we are void of any citizens that eat, sleep, and breathe the sport. Lassiter is home to two of these “hooligans,” as soccer fans in the UK are often referred to, and it’s not by accident that their passion for the sport as landed them the title of team captains of their respective varsity teams.
Megan Harris is one of the captains of Lassiter’s girls varsity soccer team and will continue playing next year at Western Carolina University on a scholarship. Playing the game since age three, soccer is a big part of her life: “I eat, sleep, and breathe soccer. Then I work at Publix and sleep some more!” It may seem extreme, but perhaps it is that kind of drive that is required to achieve the kind of success that Megan can claim. For example, Megan was Lassiter’s rookie of the year in 2001, named the best defensive player in 2002, a scholar athelete in 2003, received the United Quest scholarship in 2000 and has won several state championship titles. Megan’s achievements are certainly something to be proud of but that’s not all that the hard work is for; Megan says that what she really loves is being part of a team. She explains her passion this way: “Soccer has been such a positive reinforcement in my life. It’s been my number one motivation and has kept me out of trouble ever since I was little. I love playing, I love my teammates, I love everything about it.” You can’t argue with that, and according to her, she grew up with that mentality, “my dad is a Brit, so soccer is life. Ha.”
Patrick Flinn is one of the Varsity boys team captains. Like Megan, Patrick is very dedicated to his sport and says it takes up most of his time. Besides going to practice, Patrick hones his skills by running 2 miles in the morning (his route is on Mabry Road to the QuickTrip station, so keep your eyes open before school!) Before games Patrick claims to always eat a bagel and two bananas; perhaps his rituals seem odd to us, but we cannot argue that they aren’t working: Patrick made all county last year, was the offensive player of the year and the leading scorer. With such success, Patrick has elicited interest from many colleges to play for them, but in the end has decided to go to Dequesne University in Pittsburgh where he will receive about an eighty-five percent scholarship to play soccer. Looking back on his high school soccer days, Patrick remembers beating Milton to go to the play-offs during his sophomore year as his favorite memory. With his dedication there should be no doubt that many more great soccer memories will be to come.
Though our country isn’t exactly known for soccer it hasn’t stopped certain Lassiter students from excelling at it. As Megan and Patrick demonstrate, the popularity of the sport has nothing to do with one’s passion, this is how Megan thinks of it: “Find something you love to do and you’ll be good to go. People need to have more fun.” Indeed.