PROTECT THE GOAL! Interview with Abby Harper

Written by: Phoebe Hong

Edited by Melanie Kuo and Keelin Davis

[The following interview was conducted verbally and recorded as an audio recording. The following article has paraphrased or directly quoted quotes from Abby Harper to best fit with the tone and direction of the article]

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Abigail Harper, now wrapping up her third year playing soccer at Jackson High School, has demonstrated an extremely successful senior season and has gained attention from within her team and community for her stellar contributions as goalie. Phoebe Hong from the Wolfpak Press at Jackson High School took the chance to interview our star goalie.

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Abigail Harper, currently the goalie for Jackson's Varsity Girls Soccer team (10-2-0), has been playing soccer for about 14 years, having played in a recreational team until 5th grade, then performing in a premier team. Now, she is active in an Elite Club Regional League (ECRL) and is the starting goalie for Jackson's Varsity Girls Soccer team.

JHS Girls Soccer Seniors

In the current 2021-2022 season, Jackson Girls Varsity Soccer maintains a stellar record with 10 total wins, 2 losses, and no ties. One of the most highly anticipated games of the season was against rival Glacier Peak High School, in which the girls faced their first loss of the season. Apart from winning or losing, Harper considers the game against Glacier Peak to be the most notable: "The most memorable was definitely GP, we did lose —that was our first loss—but we played really well and fought really hard. I feel like I had one of my best games and I feel like our team had one of their best games altogether!" She also credits the Glacier Peak game for homing her favorite save of the season. "I black out a lot of the times; I don't remember my saves," Harper humbly confessed, "but during the GP game, it was probably a corner kick. . . I just went in the air and punched it out!".

Demonstrating her humble and cordial character, Harper credits much of her success as goalie to her fellow teammates. "We all really uplift each other— if you come to one of our games you'll hear everybody on the sidelines cheering each other on." Harper continues to specifically praise this year's Varsity Girls Soccer captains: Kate Russell, Kaelyn Fernandez, and Kaeden Hansen. "Teammates-wise, our captains do a good job: Kate, Kaeden and Kaelyn. They are the best people to play with and they're all just great people". Of course, she can't forget mentioning her significant mentor figures: "Goalie coaches I adore you--and my mom! Shout out to mom!"

Overall, Harper recounts her senior season as "Fun, intense and COLD!" If she could leave any advice to her underclassmen teammates for the next season, she encourages them to communicate well with one another positively and efficiently. "Constructive criticism is SO important; make sure to tell people what to do NICELY; communicate well. And keep uplifting each other". Although she is sad to wrap up her last year playing soccer, she has full trust in her younger teammates to show promising results in their next school season.

2021-2022 Jackson High School Girls Varsity Soccer

While she does not plan to pursue soccer in college, Harper has very fond memories of her triumphs and losses with soccer and is extremely grateful for the positive attention and encouragement. "I seriously had no idea people would want to interview me at all!" She revealed truthfully, "That's so weird to me".

As the senior girls move on to the next chapter of their lives, whether that be with the company of a black and white spotted ball or some other pathway, Harper has demonstrated and continues to radiate her boundless potential, humility, and positivity to wherever her next destination may be.