Get to know Batavia HS soccer players, seniors Avery Solomon and Sophia Vozza
BATAVIA, Ill. — One of the most rewarding things about youth sports is the friendships that are made on the playing field. And sometimes those young friendships continue into high school and beyond, as is the case with Batavia High School seniors Avery Solomon and Sophia Vozza, who have been playing soccer together for almost 13 years and have been friends for even longer, as they live in the same neighborhood just a few houses apart.
Now 17 years old, Avery and Sophia say they basically grew up together, and their families became extremely close. They both started playing soccer for a TCSA recreational team when they were 5 years old, and their dads were their first coaches. It was love at first kick for the two. “I knew from the moment I stepped on the field that I would love this sport,” says Avery. Both girls concur that a large part of their love for soccer revolves around the great friends they have made on their various teams and the fun they have during practices and games. “They [friends] made me love the sport and continue playing,” explains Sophia.
Both girls play for Batavia High School in the spring, and in the fall and winter, they are members of Strikers Fox Valley Soccer Club 04/05 Premier Team. While neither girl plans to play soccer at the collegiate level, that doesn’t necessarily mean an end to their careers. “Depending on what college I attend,” says Sophia, “intramural or club soccer may be of interest to me. For that reason, I would like to continue to improve throughout my last season with Strikers and at BHS.”
As many young athletes know, playing a sport basically year-round for so many years can take its toll on a person, both emotionally and physically. The girls admit that over the years they have faced various challenges related to their level of commitment and stress. “Staying committed can be tough sometimes,” Avery concedes. “After a long day at school or work, it takes a lot of energy to give 100 percent at practice, but I always push through and think of how my teammates and coaches are counting on me to show up.” Sophia explains that there is also a mental challenge associated with playing a sport at a higher level. She admits she was often too hard on herself when it came to soccer and began to dread going to practices and games. “I realized that I only had a few years left and I just wanted to make the most of it, which I have done over the past few years.” To this same point, Avery shares that she has learned to “only control what I can control.” She goes on, “There is always a lot of pressure on athletes to be perfect, but it’s important to learn from your mistakes and enjoy every moment.”
On the flip side, playing a sport can help relieve stress in other areas of life, such as offering a break from homework and a change of environment from home and school. For Avery and Sophia, soccer provides an outlet for outside pressures. “It is a way for me to escape from my daily stresses and have a little fun,” Sophia shares.
When not practicing or playing soccer, Avery likes to go shopping with her friends and go for drives while listening to her favorite music (a.k.a., Taylor Swift). Sophia says she loves spending time with her family and she especially loves traveling, whether it be someplace close to home like Wisconsin or for a bigger vacation to a place like California or Florida.
Both girls wholeheartedly agree that the friendship they share is special, spanning so many years and so many soccer teams. As a result, Avery says she thinks of Sophia as a sister. “Soccer has made our friendship stronger and has brought us closer than ever,” she shares. “From the car rides, jamming out to music on our way to games, to running to each other to do our handshake after one of us scored, Sophia has never left my side – and I wouldn’t want anyone else to have been by my side while playing the sport I Iove.”
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