TOP PHOTO: Lady Cougar Soccer was front and center at its annual banquet.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County High School girls soccer team held its banquet on Tuesday evening at Knobby Hill Farm. It was a nostalgic night for the nine seniors exiting the team as their last “high school season” came to a close. 

Seniors include McKenna Chapman, Khalea Hatfield, Gina Isber, Audrey Bishop, Kendyl Austin, Yamel Vera, Faith Elkins, Stephanie Garcia, and Makenzie York.

All the seniors said they were going to miss their teammates and playing together on the field.

“I’m going to miss the girls the most because I’ve a really close bond with them. I’m going to miss playing together and I’m going to miss our summer practices,” Yamel Vera said. 

“I’m going to miss my team members and all the coaches,” said senior Kendyl Austin.

“I’m going to miss all the seniors and the rest of the team and soccer in general, and Stevie, I’m going to miss Stevie,” Gina Isber said, talking about assistant coach Steve Ward. 

Faith Elkins said she wouldn’t trade her time playing soccer for anything.

“I honestly think this was my best year playing, but the most surprising season of all; I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Elkins said. According to coaches, Elkins was one of the most versatile players on the team.

“She would come and say coach where can I help the team out the most…we used her all over the field,” said Campbell County Head Soccer Coach Bryan Horton.

Senior Khalea Hatfield said she was going to miss her teammates and “the experience in general.”

Senior Stephanie Garcia said she would also miss her coaches and teammates. “I’m such a better player now than when I was a freshman, and I just want to thank all my coaches who have always been so encouraging,” Garcia said. 

Four-year starter, four year letterman and all district player Audrey Bishop said she wanted to thank everyone that had been involved in coaching her.

“Soccer has really been the majority of my life over the last four years and I’m just going to miss all of it,”  Bishop said

Coach Horton said he was “awesomely proud of these kids” and all they had accomplished over the season and over the past four years.

“We couldn’t do it without help, we had people film the games, worked concessions and more. It helps so much when parents step up, and we appreciate you all so much,” said Coach Horton.

He also said he wanted to thank the parents for letting their kids play soccer. 

“I’ve been coaching soccer in Campbell County for 23 years; it means so much to us to have soccer in Campbell County. These were a great group of seniors who supported each other and supported their team,” Horton said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/03/2021-6AM)

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