When most people hear about a 40-40 club, they think about Major League Baseball celebrating a player collecting 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same season. Tonight at Tommy Thompson Field, we have our first opportunity to welcome a third member to our Girls Soccer 40-40 club as we host Galax.
The balance it takes to both score 40 goals and assist with 40 others in a high school career is truly remarkable. CCHS senior Callie Harris enters play needing three goals and one helper to join two previous club members in the elite group.
Harris added two assists earlier this week against Patrick County High School to bring her totals up to 37 and 39 for her time on The Hill. The goal or assist that will allow our beloved ” Half Pint ” to cross the threshold is far from guaranteed to happen tonight, but it’s the start of the watch party.
What does it take for a player to reach 40 – 40 at the high school level ?
Let’s make a Top Ten list for the answer :
#10 – one has to be committed to the sport for an extended period of time. The countless hours of practice, matches, and travel ball over the years leading up to the high school years is a must.
#9 – Staying healthy. The endurance it takes to play the sport at a high level doesn’t get the attention that it deserves.
#8 – Strong coaching. Any soccer player is dependent upon having a coach with the understanding of the game, which allows the player to be placed in the correct place on the Pitch.
#7 – Avoiding unforseen bad breaks. The reason why Callie is trying hard to be the third Lady Cavalier and not the fourth to join the club is Kaylei Newman missed out due to losing her senior year to Covid. The older of the two Newman sisters would have certainly been a member if not for losing out on her final year.
#6 – Putting the biscuit into the basket 🧺! Getting into the right position is only half the battle. Having the leg 🦵 strength and ability to make the split second decision on the correct angle is key to finishing up a play.
#5 – Being a great teammate. This is another one that is undervalued in my mind. The manner in which you carry yourself in the lockeroom and away from the pitch can absolutely 💯% make a difference. More often than not, a goal scorer is put in position by a feed from a teammate.
#4 – Running mates. Ashlyn Newman, the younger of the incredibly talented sisters, is our all-time scoring leader in school history but not a member of the club. Ashlyn played the game at a different level for most of her time here, and that will limit the number of assist opportunities. To collect 40 assists, one has to have others running alongside them.
#3 – Determination. One has to play the game with a level of commitment that others simply can not relate to. Half Pint checks ✔️ this box 📦, not only in Soccer but pretty much everything she does.
That leaves us the top two reasons that Callie Harris finds herself on destiny’s doorstep tonight.
Reasons 1 & 2 – Two people are in this club already, and Callie has grown up fighting to keep up with her two Big Sisters. It just a Harris thing that even works it way down to family Monopoly games.
Selfishly, I want it to happen tonight while I will be holding the 🎤🎙🎤 so we can celebrate it in style ! Maybe, maybe not, but know that when it does happen, there will be a moment where the little one will breathe easier.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 