Kickin’ it with Molly

Senior co-captain reflects on 4 years on McCallum pitch

Senior+co-captain+Molly+Blankenship+blasts+the+ball+toward+the+Knights+offensive+end+of+the+field+during+the+teams+2-0+victory+over+Reagan+Friday+night+at+Nelson+Field.+Photo+by+Bella+Russo.+

Senior co-captain Molly Blankenship blasts the ball toward the Knights’ offensive end of the field during the team’s 2-0 victory over Reagan Friday night at Nelson Field. Photo by Bella Russo.

The Shield: How long have you been playing soccer?

Molly Blankenship: Well I’ve been playing since I was 4, so about 14 years now.

TS: Was there ever a time that you wanted to quit?

MB: Not that I remember, but my mom said that she had to come kick the ball with me because I wouldn’t want to do it by myself. But since then, I’ve just always liked it.

TS: Since you have been at McCallum, what has your soccer journey been like?

MB: Freshman year, I made varsity, and I was a starter. That was a pretty big deal for me because I think that I was the only freshman starter that year. It was also kind of cool because there were only three freshmen on varsity that year. I was outside mid, then sophomore year, I got injured, so I didn’t really have a big role. Then junior year, I came back and I was a starter, and I shifted towards center. In the center you can see a lot more, so I have to communicate more with the team. I’m kind of the main communicator between defense and offense. This year I am captain so I have an even bigger role in communicating with the team, so I have kind of gained a leadership role on the team I guess throughout the years.

In the center you can see a lot more, so I have to communicate more with the team. I’m kind of the main communicator between defense and offense.

— Senior co-captain Molly Blankenship

TS: What are some of your responsibilities as captain?

MB: Izzy [Gillespie] and I lead every practice and every game, and I am also the main communicator because [Coach Stephanie Watson] will text me and tell me where we need to go, and I’ll tell the girls. Before games, we get everyone pumped up and ready to play and make sure everyone knows that for the next two hours that is what were focused on. We start the drills and stuff like that.

TS: What will you miss most about McCallum soccer?

MB: Definitely just the friendships that I have made. It’s fun to play and to win, but I’ve gotten really close with some of the girls. It’ll be really hard to leave them.

TS: What is your favorite memory of soccer?

MB: Freshman year was just really fun because me, Ellie Owen and Izzy just did our own little thing. But there was one thing in particular that was so fun. It was super muddy outside, like there was no grass, just dirt. The last 10 minutes of practice, we would get the dirt stuck to the bottom of our cleats then we kept flinging it out at whoever.

TS: How has the change in coaches changed things this year?

MB: Well [Coach Nancy Honeycutt-Searle] is a lot more chill this year. [Watson] communicates with the players more, but there hasn’t been that big of a change.

TS: How do you balance school and soccer?

MB: Whenever it’s soccer season, I have to make sure that I go in for tutoring more often than the offseason so I can fully comprehend the subjects we’re learning. I make sure that whenever I have free time, like during lunch or my off periods, I get as much homework done as possible because I know I’ll have soccer after school. [Watson] has been super good with letting us talk to teachers or make up work during soccer class to make sure we’re passing and can then have practice after school. I also try to get my work done the day it’s given to me so I can stay on top of it as much as possible.