Gatorade CT Girls Soccer Player of the Year fueled by family and the desire for team success
GLASTONBURY, Conn. (BVM) — Chloe Landers has an eye for the future and a desire to honor what has been. Though she began her soccer career when she was 5, she has always enjoyed being active playing other sports as well.
“Next to soccer, I love basketball,” Landers said.
She participated in gymnastics, dance and lacrosse as a youngster and took on basketball during middle school and freshman year at Glastonbury High School. As a sophomore and junior she ran track.
After sophomore year, the travel schedule for soccer proved difficult and compelled her to focus on the pitch. In hindsight, the decision to hone in on soccer makes perfect sense. Landers has seen immense success on the field and has been the recipient of local and national soccer honors and awards. Most recently in June, Landers was named Gatorade State Girls Soccer Player of the Year for Connecticut.
“I received an email from Gatorade the day they announced the selections,” Landers said. “There are so many outstanding high school players in our state and on my club team, so to say I was excited and honored would be an understatement!”
Over the course of her high school career with the Tomahawks, Landers’ stats indicate her great success on the field. She played in 77 games and started 68. She was credited for 11 goals and 38 assists. Between 2016 and 2019, Glastonbury went 68-5-5 as a team. They earned CIAC Class LL state championships in 2016 and 2019 and were conference champions all four years she played.
This year alone, Landers was awarded Hartford Courant Soccer Player of the Year and honored by being named to the Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association (CGSCA) all-state team, Central Connecticut all-conference team, United Soccer Coaches Association All-New England team, United Soccer Coaches Association All-American team, Allstate All-America high school team and Senior All-American team.
While certainly deserving of these numerous and varied awards, Landers remains grounded, humble and grateful for the opportunities and people who have shaped her.
“Playing soccer in my community and for Glastonbury High School is an amazing experience,” Landers said. “To be able to play on the team and win two state championships certainly will stick with me for the rest of my life.”
Growing up in Glastonbury has been, what Landers describes as, a blessing.
“There has been endless support for my soccer team,” Landers said.
Landers is constantly inspired by her family, many of whose soccer legacies energize her. Her grandfather, Robert Landers, played in the first NCAA championship game for the University of Bridgeport in 1959 and coached soccer for 34 years, earning seven state titles. She carries with her many lifelong lessons passed on to her by her late grandmothers.
“One thing I have done on game days in the past is wear pink ankle socks under my soccer socks in honor of my grandmothers and blue ankle socks in honor of my uncle,” Chloe said. “Family means a lot to me.”
She also looks to her teammates for inspiration.
“While playing soccer, it has been my teammates who have encouraged me and pushed me to be the best player, teammate and person that I can be,” Chloe said.
Off the field, Chloe enjoys spending time with her family, parents Amy and Mark, 15-year-old twin sisters, Mackenzie and Kelsey, who are also soccer players, and their two dogs, Chip and Libby. With summer upon her, Chloe is doing some soccer training with younger girls from Glastonbury (following all safety protocols), reading a few good books and making bracelets.
“I also like to go on morning bike rides with my grandpa,” Chloe said.
This fall, Chloe will take on soccer at the next level.
“I am really looking forward to being a Husky and playing for an amazing coaching staff at the University of Connecticut,” Chloe said. “Coaches Margaret Rodriguez (head coach), Carey O’Brien and Vanessa Phillips Bosshart have created a soccer family at UConn that will undoubtedly challenge our team to seek high levels of success.”
And, after UConn?
“I am hopeful that I could play after college,” Chloe said.
In the meantime, she is committed to striving for success right where she is.
“I just want to be the best teammate I can be and hopefully be able to help my team achieve various levels of success,” Chloe said. “I am really excited for our [Huskies] season to start.”
Congratulations to Chloe Landers for signing her #NLI to play soccer at UCONN! pic.twitter.com/JBPmQWIlbb
— GHS Athletics (@GburyAthletics) November 13, 2019
