BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Seven Martin County High School soccer players are on the field for the final year as Cardinals. These athletes have shown exceptional skill, teamwork and perseverance, helping to shape their team’s success. This week the seniors are giving fans a deeper look at the people behind the jerseys.

Grace Caldwell #10 — The senior participates in three sports: soccer (four years), cheerleading (one year), and tennis (three years). She is the daughter of Tracy Caldwell.

Her favorite things to do are shop, hang out with her friends and participate in clubs such as FBLA, FPS and the yearbook.

Grace would like to pursue a career in the medical field at the University of Kentucky or Eastern Kentucky University. Her favorite food is chicken and she loves to vacation at the beach.

If she could choose one superhero power it would be the ability to fly.

Grace would like to thank her family, especially her mom, for always supporting her and taking her to all of her practices. She would also like to thank all of her coaches who have helped her learn to persevere and grow as a person and player.

Accomplishments: Honor roll, governor’s scholar, soccer team All “A” Regional Champ, fifth place at JAG national, third place at FBLA state, and third in region for FPS.

Laura Hale #13 — Hale has played soccer for 14 years. She is the daughter of Bobby and Susan Hale.

Her favorite things to do are hiking, kayaking and four-wheeler riding.

Laura would like to go to college and play soccer at the next level. Her favorite food is spaghetti, and she loves to vacation at Hilton Head. If she could choose one superhero power it would be the ability to fly. Her favorite movie is The Parent Trap.

Laura would like to thank her parents for all the time and money they’ve invested in her playing soccer.

Hale made All-State her junior year.

Lexi Sammons #3 — Sammons is a member of the soccer and cheerleading teams. She has played since kindergarten. She is the daughter of Jessica Howard and Neil Sammons.

Her favorite things to do are to hang out with her friends, family, and boyfriend and go to the lake. She is a fan of Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

Her go-to song is Forever by Noah Kahan.

Her plans after school are to go to Ashland Community and Technical College and become an ultrasound tech.

Her fave food is pizza and she loves to vacation at the beach.

Alexis’s fave TV shows are Greys Anatomy and The Vampire Diaries. If she could choose a superhero power it would be invisibility and teleportation.

A fun fact about Alexis is she can do a backflip.

She would like to thank her mom for always believing in and pushing her to be her best at everything.

Accomplishments: made the superintendent’s list her freshman, sophomore and junior year, and 2023 super large varsity region champions in cheer.

Ida Heinsen #17 — Heinsen is a foreign exchange student from Denmark and just recently began playing soccer. Her nickname is Ketchup.

Her fave things to do are sleep, eat and laugh. Her favorite athlete is Laura Hale of the Martin County soccer team.

Ida’s go-to song is Walking on Sunshine.

She wants to be either a professional ball runner for the World Cup in soccer or a journalist after school. Her fave vacation spot is Greece and her fave TV show is Friends.

If she could choose a superhero power it would be the ability to fly.

She would like to thank her amazing host family who has been so sweet and welcoming. “You are making this year one of the best.”

A fun fact about Ida is she is allergic to milk and she can do the worm.

Heinsen was in the Danish Championship of Trampoline Youth a couple of years ago.

The most valuable lesson she has learned is how it feels to be a part of a team and the amazing friendships you get. She also learned a valuable lesson to “NEVER STAP AT THE BALL.”

Vittoria Dellamotta #40 — Dellamotta is a foreign exchange student from Italy and just recently began playing soccer. Her nickname is Ketchup.

Her fave things to do are ride on the four-wheeler, go to the lake, and play beach volleyball. Her favorite athlete is Alessia Orro,

Vittoria’s go-to song is Whatever She Wants by Bryson Tiller.

Her fave food is lasagna and she loves to vacation in South America.

Her favorite TV show is My Name is Earl. Her fave movies are The Notebook and Forrest Gump.

If she could choose a superhero power it would be teleportation.

She loves makeup and shopping.

Dellamotta would like to thank her host family for showing her love every single day.

The most valuable lesson she has learned from her coach is always to push each other.

Malin Burkart #12 — She is a foreign exchange student from Switzerland and just recently began playing soccer.

Her fave things to do are shop, read, and hang out with her friends. Her favorite team is Fcz, a Swiss soccer club.

Malin’s go-to song is White Ferrari.

Her fave food is pasta and she loves to vacation in New York and Italy.

Her favorite movie is 10 Things I Hate About You.

If she could choose a superhero power it would be to fly.

The most valuable lesson she has learned from her coach is never to give up.

Solène Gerard #15 — She is a foreign exchange student from France.

Her fave things to do are listening to music and hanging out with friends. Her favorite team is Real Madrid, a Spanish soccer team.

Her fave athlete is Kylian Mbappe.

Gerard’s go-to song is Hay Lupita.

Her fave food is corndogs and she loves to vacation in Thailand.

Her favorite movie is Interstellar.

If she could choose a superhero power it would be super strength.

The most valuable lesson she has learned from her coach is to help others.