Freshman Neha Mohanty plays in a soccer game against Dacula on Nov. 1, 2014. Neha has been playing since she was four years old. “I remember when my mom asked me (if I wanted to play soccer). It was a no-brainer for me,” Neha said. (Photo courtesy of Pooja Mohanty)
By ZOE PETERSON – Staff Writer
Freshman Neha Mohanty has been playing soccer for ten years, and through those years it has become an influential part of her life.
Growing up, freshman Neha Mohanty always knew she wanted to play soccer.
“There are videos of me when I was little, around one year old, kicking around a little soccer ball. My sister played for Clarke Central High School, and I just always remember wanting to play,” Neha said.
Neha began playing on a team when she was four years old at Bishop Park with Athens Leisure Services. She switched over to Athens United Soccer Association a few years later, and has grown close to her coaches and fellow players since then.
“The club is kind of like a second family, especially since I’ve been playing for so long I know a lot of people there like management, coaches and most of the girls who play,” Neha said.
“I’m looking forward to the Clarke Central High School season and learning from older players who are more experienced than me. I’m definitely hoping to improve a lot this season.” -Freshman Neha Mohanty
Neha also plays soccer for her school teams. In seventh grade, Neha played for Burney Harris Lyons Middle School, and in eighth grade she played as captain of the team. She is now excited to play for Clarke Central High School in the upcoming spring season.
“I’m looking forward to the Clarke Central High School season and learning from older players who are more experienced than me. I’m definitely hoping to improve a lot this season,” Neha said.
Through playing on many teams for all of her life, Neha has become very passionate about soccer. It serves as her happy place and she knows that it’ll always be there for her.
“Playing (soccer) just makes me happy,” Neha said. At the end of the day, if I’m ever having a bad day I just go outside and start playing and everything feels better. It’s kind of like a stress-reliever for me.”
Neha’s teammates have also noticed how passionate she is about soccer.
“Neha is always doing something soccer-related. She also has good sportsmanship and she’s very trustworthy,” freshman Diana Mejia said.
Neha is excited for the future and plans to keep playing soccer for as long as she can.
“Soccer is a part of my everyday life,” Neha said. “A quote I live by is ‘never give up on something that you can’t go one day without thinking about’ and that’s how I feel about soccer.”
