Kirsten Gray (left) produces big results on the soccer pitch, and in the classroom. She is a 4.0 student at Swainsboro High.
Courtesy photo
When
Kirsten Gray registered a hat trick in the first half of her team's game on Feb. 22, she was just getting started.
The sophomore soccer star at
Swainsboro (Ga.) closed out the contest with seven goals in a 7-0 victory over Treutlen. Yes, she scored every goal.
The previous night, Gray scored three of her team's four goals and tallied an assist on the other in a 4-0 win. Eleven points on 10 goals and one assist in two games in two days. Impressive.
"She went on a little hot streak," Swainsboro coach Chang Lin said. "Had it not been raining, because we actually played through rain for that game, truthfully as crazy as it sounds, she had a lot more opportunities to score more."
The 16-year-old had a great game, but she was more concerned about her team picking up two shutout victories instead of her phenomenal individual performance.
"My team helped me a lot," Gray said. "I got a few great assists and they gave me plenty of opportunities on breakaways. I couldn't have scored all those goals without my teammates."
Gray poses with coach Chang Lin and some
hardware she earned.
Courtesy photo
The forward has already netted 20 goals and one assist in her team's first seven games this season. She is leading her region in goals and points and has three hat tricks. All of last year, Gray had 10 goals and two assists; she was named first-team All-Region.
Gray is a two-year captain and leader for Swainsboro. The high school girls program is only in its second year, so there are a lot of beginners on the team. Lin figures 80 percent of the girls were new to the sport last year.
"Soccer around here is not very popular and not many girls play," Gray said. "I usually have to play with the boys, so it was fun to go out and see what (playing against) other girls is like."
It makes it a little more difficult for Gray to be a standout player with supporting players around her who don't have much soccer experience. But Gray has already noticed her teammates are playing better this season.
"I think the girls on the team, they've improved, so that's helped me as an individual player as well," Gray said. "I think they have improved and I've improved, and it's helped all of our stats."
Gray first started playing soccer in her hometown's recreation league at age 6. When she got to seventh grade, Gray joined a co-ed soccer team and was a star for two years at the middle school level. Lin said having Gray playing against the guys really upped her abilities on the field.
"It helped out greatly because as she was going through the (grades), she was already way ahead of the other girls who were starting out," said Lin, who has coached Gray since seventh grade. "So her only option of getting better competition was playing against the guys."
Said Gray: "I've been trying to get the girls to come out there and play with us, because I think playing with the guys is a more challenging way to learn."
Lin is expecting big things out of Gray the remainder of her sophomore year.
"I expect for her to get around 60 goals, which is ridiculous for a season," Lin said.
Lin thinks Gray's talent on the soccer field is off the charts, and she's just scratching the surface early in her career. Gray's coach has been encouraging her to latch onto a travel soccer team and increase her exposure to stronger competitors and increase her chances of earning a college scholarship.
"If I had the opportunity to play soccer year-round, I would probably do that," Gray said.
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Lin is already getting college looks from some small local colleges, but also from the University of South Carolina. The Gamecocks have contacted her about attending a camp so they can take a closer look at her playing ability.
Gray led her cross country team's efforts in the
state meet this fall.
Courtesy photo
"As a coach, I've seen a lot of players both at the high school level and I've watched some college games and especially pro games, and she has the ability to possibly play at a Division I school," Lin said.
Gray -- a nominee the last two years for the statewide Hines Ward Positive Athlete Award, recognizing athletes who are established and credible role models to young athletes – has also been a two-year starter on the softball team.
She plays shortstop and second base and prides herself on her defense. This past season Gray was named the team's Golden Glove Award winner for her prowess in the infield.
"It was real surprising to me because it's a big honor," Gray said. "I've never received a softball award that big before."
After the softball season wrapped late last fall, Gray joined the cross country team for the first time. She played a major role in helping Swainsboro advance as a team to the state meet, where it placed 27th in Class 2A. Individually, Gray finished first on her team and 109th overall with a time of 29 minutes, 9.42 seconds.
Gray is a well-balanced athlete, but just as strong academically. She is ranked No. 5 in her class of nearly 200 students with a 4.0 GPA. She puts in the time necessary to make sure she's succeeding in the classroom.
"My family's pretty big on academics, so they make sure I keep a balance between grades and my sports," Gray said. "I think it's very important to keep high grades, because that's another thing that goes into college."
Gray is taking four advanced courses this semester, but makes sure she has time to be a member of Swainsboro's Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America and student council.
Volunteering has always been a priority for Gray. Through some of her school clubs, she's been able to visit veterans' hospitals and nursing homes near her community. She has a chance to sit down and get to know some of the residents.
"It makes me really happy," Gray said. "I'm always glad to help someone. I know they need appreciation like that and I'm glad I can do it."
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