By Simone Midgett, Staff Writer
Sitting at a table surrounded by their peers, pens in their hands and the weight of having to decide where to continue their education and soccer careers for the next four years — it all lifted off their shoulders at the same time as the lifelong friends signed their names.
Wednesday, Feb. 7, was an important day for Anne Elliott Taylor, who signed to play Division II soccer at Concord University, and best friend Brayleigh Jones, who signed to play Division I soccer at Coastal Carolina University.
“At the age of 4, my dad brought me to play at the rec league and from there I played on a travel team, and I just got to know a group of girls that are still my best friends and I consider them my sisters,” Taylor said.
Soccer is something that has greatly impacted both Jones and Taylor’s lives, from bringing them closer together as friends to being a deciding in factor while choosing where they wanted to further their education.
“I like (Coastal Carolina) a lot, so when I got the offer I was like, ‘This is my school. This is where I want to go.’ ” Jones said. “From the first visit, I was really determined to go there.”
Although Jones knew exactly what she wanted in a college soccer program in picking the Big South school outside of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the process wasn’t as easy for Taylor.
“I had seen what college recruiting was like with my sister, Mary Love, and she committed to Duke, so she got into a bunch of different schools before,” Taylor said. “That helped me decide, knowing the ins and outs.”
Before making a decision on the West Virginia college that plays in the Mountain East Conference, Taylor also looked at Western Carolina, UNC-Asheville, College of Charleston and Elon.
“I always thought I wanted to play Division I, but then after touring other schools, some of the schools were really big and they weren’t my style and I could tell the coaching wasn’t personal, but when I went to Concord and toured there the coach was super personable,” Taylor said.
Balancing traveling to Virginia Beach for soccer practice four times a week and the stress of senior year may be difficult for most, but Jones and Taylor set a goal and did what was needed to achieve it.
“I have a set schedule: I have to get all my homework done because I know I have practice most nights and I know I won’t be able to do it,” Jones said. “It’s made me better in school with getting my work done as soon as I can.”
Although this will be the last year Jones and Taylor will have the chance to step out on the field as teammates, they will always have the memories from the many years they stormed the field together.
“I remember making really funny videos in the car on the way to one soccer tournament because their coach let me guest play with them, and we will always remember those videos,” Taylor said.
Sophomore Simone Midgett can be reached at midgettsa0827@daretolearn.org.
