Paige Shuman Playing Soccer for Highlands Football Club in Asheville North Carolina.
Photo Credits: Self-Submitted by Paige Shuman
Rosalyn Rabinowitz, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn
Dedication, speed, strength, motivation, and intuition are all words often associated with the challenging game of soccer. Paige Shuman, a sophomore at Watauga High School, exemplifies all of these qualities through her play. Although Shuman is an exemplary soccer player, she chooses to take her talents off the WHS campus. She plays club soccer year-round, serving as a key member on teams in both Boone and Asheville. Focusing solely on club soccer allows Shuman to focus on her future in the sport as she prepares for the collegiate level.
Soccer has been a central part of Shuman's life since she was three and has played a major role in shaping her identity. Even though she has tried other sports, soccer is the one that Shuman has always chosen. Her continued passion for the sport has inspired her to take it to the next level by playing in college.
“I'm kinda nervous because I've talked to a lot of collegiate players who have been recruited already,” said Shuman. “But the process has changed so much with technology that sometimes it feels pointless to send out all these emails that they can't even respond to yet.”
Shuman’s dedication to soccer is admirable. The long drives, missed social activities, and packed schedule has not stopped her in the least. While it can be difficult to find a balance among all her commitments, utilizing her time efficiently in school allows her to focus on soccer outside of school.
“Well, I would say that you end up missing out on a lot of stuff that I'm sure is really important to a lot of people,” said Shuman. “But honestly, I feel like I have a really good social connection with my team; those are some of my best friends. So I'm not missing out on the whole social life in general, but there obviously some things I wish I could go to.”
Playing on multiple teams allows Shuman to experience soccer from various levels, cultures, and perspectives. Each team brings a different challenge and lesson for her, while also gaining her greater exposure from recruiters.
“I feel like a lot of the girls in Asheville are really interested in playing college soccer, but they don't necessarily want to practice any more than what they do because we practice so much as a team,” said Shuman. “But the boys on the high country team are always trying to practice together outside of [regular] practice. It's a really good environment”
Although Shuman's club teams are important to her, Shuman's decision to not play soccer at Watauga High School wasn't an easy one. The majority of Shuman's friends play on the women's high school soccer team, making it difficult not being able to play with them.
“I’m upset it doesn't work out because high school seems like a really cool environment and experience,” said Shuman.
Shuman has started to navigate the uncharted waters of recruitment. Even though she cannot officially talk to any coaches, it is still daunting to figure out the best way to appeal to them. As she gets closer into her junior year, extra pressure is added during each of Shuman’s performances on the field.
“It's really nerve-racking thinking about one mistake can make them walk away and say, ‘I don't want her on my team,’” said Shuman. “It's how you respond to everything, and I feel like coaches are looking more at your attitude and the effort you put into it.”
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