Rachel Doherty is accustomed to hard work. She has been involved in sports for a big portion of her life. She is well aware of the commitment it takes to be an athlete, not to mention the toll it takes on the body. Rachel, a two-sport athlete at Enid High, has been a member of the volleyball team and soccer team her entire high school career.
When speaking to Rachel about the challenges of being a two-sport athlete she said, “playing through all the temporary and permanent injuries is still my hardest challenge but has made me a stronger player and person.” Her motivation comes from many things. Her parents have been very supportive, she works hard to make them proud, and she strives to be the very best she can be for herself and her teammates. “Rachel brings a drive, both in terms of energy and confidence to compete, daily,” said Enid High Soccer Coach Craig Liddell.
As a member of two teams, Rachel has had to learn how to adapt her leadership styles to her many teammates. She says “one of the things I have learned about teamwork is, no matter if someone is having a good or bad day, we as a team need to always support them.” This is a lesson that she seems to have mastered. After watching Rachel play several times I can say that she is very supportive and encouraging to her teammates.
Coach Liddell says that “Rachel is a character both on and off the field who positively influences those around her. A dual-sport athlete that is committed to being genuinely good at both.” Athletics has many positive effects on students, and for Rachel, it helps her stay focused on her future goals and keeps her on top of her grades.
Rachel is planning on going to college to play soccer or volleyball. She is excited about the opportunities that athletics will open up for her in her future. She says one of the most important lessons she has learned from being an athlete is to “give it your all no matter what and to always play as if it was your last time.”
Coach Liddell and Coach Nelson said Rachel is a key leader within their programs. Whatever the next step is for Rachel we feel that she will have a positive impact not only on their athletic teams but on their overall culture as well.
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