‘Sky’s the limit’ for Nebraska soccer commit Sarah Weber
GRETNA, Neb. (BVM) — Digger Hawkins has been around the game of soccer his whole life and knows a special talent when he sees it.
The Gretna High School head girls soccer coach — who became a professional player as a youth in England — has earned some of the highest coaching licenses one can obtain and has been instrumental in the development of numerous high-level NCAA Division I college players throughout his career.
University of Nebraska commit Sarah Weber is one of the most special girls soccer players he’s had the opportunity to work with.
“Her drive and determination and training habits are just absolutely phenomenal to be honest,” Hawkins said. “She’s one of the most talented female players I’ve coached. … The sky’s the limit for her if she continues to work hard and do the things that she’s doing.”
Weber missed out on her junior season with the Dragons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she was named the 2019-20 Gatorade Nebraska Girls Soccer Player of the Year because of what she’s already done on the pitch. The two-time all-state selection was the leading scorer for all of Class A as a sophomore and has 52 goals in her first two seasons with Gretna. What’s more impressive is what Weber has accomplished outside of the high school game.
The 5-foot-6 forward and midfielder has been part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) for the past five years, and in January she was one of 28 players selected to participate in the ODP’s U.S. Youth Soccer national training camp in Tampa, Fla. She made the cut to compete with the national team in Paris, France this past April before the trip was canceled because of the pandemic.
“To be picked to compete in Paris was pretty special,” Weber said. “All of the girls are so good at that point, so once you get there it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m competing with the best of the best and they’re only going to make me better. I was really looking forward to that opportunity to go to Paris and compete against some of the teams there and even just playing with all of the girls that made the team with me.”
Weber will still have more opportunities to compete with the best of the best in college and possibly beyond. She has one more year left to play with the Dragons before she officially joins the Huskers for the 2021 season. Weber had been heavily recruited since she was in seventh grade and garnered interest from Notre Dame, Stanford, Creighton and Marquette among others before choosing to stay in her home state and play for Nebraska. The chance for her parents to come watch her play in college was a big factor in her decision, as was the Huskers’ emphasis on player development.
“I really liked how all of the girls on Nebraska’s team have the same type of mentality and that was to get better,” Weber said. “Player development is one of the biggest factors that they constantly work on. I’m looking to get better, not just stay at the same level, so that was really big for me like, ‘Hey, when I come here, I’m still going to develop as a player and still get better.’”
It’s that drive to become better which Hawkins believes separates Weber from most other players and will continue to benefit her after she leaves Gretna.
“She’s very, very motivated and has a commitment to excellence,” Hawkins said.
Weber’s dedication combined with her special talent could eventually lead to an opportunity to play the game she loves at the sport’s highest level.
“Playing professionally has always been a dream of mine,” Weber said. “That would be the goal for me and to see where it takes me because I never want to give up having to play soccer. I want to play it for as long as possible.”
