Sports Spotlight: Kaitlyn Clark | Observer Preps

Despite being only an eighth-grader, Kaitlyn Clark has been dominating on the pitch for the Foundation Lions varsity girls soccer team. In her first two games — a 9-0 win over Jones and a 9-1 loss to Master’s Academy — Clark picked up three goals and three assists. She hopes that after her time at Foundation to go on to play soccer at Florida State University and find her way onto the U.S. Women’s National Team.

What got you into soccer?

My mom — (she) played soccer at Florida State.

What is your favorite part about playing soccer?

Because it’s the “player’s game” — that’s what it’s known as — and you get to create, and it’s not just all a bunch of plays that are in a handbook. You get to make some of it up as you go.

What’s your favorite thing about being on the Foundation soccer team?

We are so positive with each other and supportive, so it’s like a sisterhood — which I like.

Have you always played at center-mid?

I actually started left wing or right wing at club — which is more on the outsides — but I moved to center-mid here. In center-mid, it’s different, because you’re on the ball more, so I control the game more and can help my team more.

What’s the most difficult thing about playing soccer?

The hardest part, I would say, is learning the tactics of the game. You have to learn many different things, as I said, because you can’t just memorize plays. You have to learn a bunch of different combinations of touches and awareness, because it’s not just passing and dribbling.

What is it like, as an eighth-grader, playing on the varsity girls team?

It’s a little intimidating sometimes when you’re going against way bigger girls than you, but I like it. I like that it’s hard and difficult — I like the challenge.

When you’re not playing soccer, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love to listen to music and hang out with my friends. I am a genre flow-er, so it’s whatever I’m feeling — my biggest are rap and country.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I would go to Greece, because it’s really pretty there. I’ve been to the Bahamas and Jamaica.

What is your routine after a game?

Either I go out to eat with some of my teammates right after and talk about the game or stuff in general, or I come home and just relax — probably ice my legs if I got tackled that game.