Catoosa’s Sydnee White
Catoosa High School striker Sydnee White said the best part of soccer is not just the goals she scores but the people she scores them with.
“What I love most about my team is the fun energy we always have,” White said. “Everyone encourages each other to get better and grow. This team really feels like a family on and off the field. There is never a dull moment with my team.”
White, a varsity standout for the Lady Indians, embraces the responsibility that comes with playing up top. She knows the spotlight finds the striker in big moments. “I play striker. The toughest thing about this position is the pressure to score, especially when the team needs it most,” she said.
That pressure is easier to handle because of the coaches who have shaped her. White said her past and current coaches have given her a model of how to compete and how to carry herself. “They have all taught me different things, like staying committed, having confidence and just enjoying the game,” she said. “They still motivate me and remind me that effort and attitude matter just as much as my talent.”
In the classroom, White gravitates toward the details of how things work. Her favorite subject is anatomy, and she credits Catoosa teacher Mrs. LeMaster with helping bring it to life. “She is very educated and will help you really understand the subjects you are learning,” White said.
Representing Catoosa means carrying a small town’s pride every time she pulls on her jersey. “I love representing Catoosa because it is a great community,” she said. “Catoosa really is a small town, so you get to create close bonds with most the people.”
Away from the field, White leans on the same close-knit connections she values in soccer. “I really enjoy hanging out with my friends and family,” she said. “I love creating more memories with the people I love. I love surrounding myself with people who truly care about me.”
Those relationships mirror what she has learned through sports. “Athletics has taught me more than just my sport, and more about what it’s like to be on a team,” White said. “Being on a team is about learning to love and trust the people you play with and form bonds with people that will last forever.”
As she looks to her future on the pitch, White said the next step is strengthening the mental side of her game. “Everything is mental, so I just have to have confidence and know my abilities and trust myself and what I have learned,” she said.
