This week’s In The Spotlight subject came to us via Coach JC Collins of the Oak Ridge girls soccer team. In talking to the Coach a few weeks ago, I informed him that we are always looking for athletes who are outspoken leaders.
That being pointed out, Collins definitely hit the nail on the head with his goalkeeper, Laurin Engle.
Meet Laurin Engle:
Your enthusiasm for anything having to do with Oak Ridge high school is unmatched. Is there anything you don’t like about Oak Ridge?
I love Oak Ridge. I’ve always been treated relatively fairly and had some pretty great teachers along the way. The one thing that bothers me about the high school is the lack of school spirit. Don’t get me wrong, there are many of us kids who have spirit but there’s just too much negativity. Overall spirit is the one thing Oak Ridge lacks. Kids all the time talk about how much we suck. I just don’t get it. I don’t get how you wouldn’t stand behind your school at all costs. Kids who have never been to an Oak Ridge soccer game before will come up to me and say, “So how bad did y’all suck last night?” I just don’t get it. We support the other teams. I just wish that in my time here more people could have been more supportive. You know, maybe we didn’t have the greatest of records but every one us really goes at it with a lot of effort and we are proud to be playing for Oak Ridge High School. After we graduate, I hope that in the future the lack of spirit aspect changes at the school. Whatever sport is being played, all students should get behind the players.
How long have you been playing soccer? What kind of training have you had?
I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4 years old. However, right before high school, I quit in order to swim. Late my freshman year Coach Collins came and found me at Battle of the Bands and asked if I would come out and play for him. (He desperately needed a keeper for the upcoming year.) I accepted, and quit swimming at the same time. Never regretted it since. I’ve never been to a soccer camp, and select soccer is much more serious, much more intense all the time.
Has goalie been the position of choice since you started?
As far as I can remember, I’ve been a goalie. Ever since I was just four and my dad was the coach of the team, I always wanted to play keeper.( Maybe just because it involved less running. :] ) But somewhere around 12 years old, I fell in love with the position. It’s definitely the best position on the field. I’ve always loved the fact that you have to be just a little bit crazy to play goalie. Plus, making a great save is the best feeling in the world … even better than scoring.
Coach JC Collins seems like a real enthusiastic dude. How is your relationship with him?
Ah, Coach Collins and I are pretty tight. We disagree on a lot of things, but there is a lot of respect between us. I think he is a great coach solely on the fact that he just cares SO much. He loves his job and every single one of these girls to no end. Even when I think he might be wrong in the strategy department, he makes up for it in effort. He’s always learning new techniques by reading new studies and making friends with other coaches trying to get information out of them. We make fun of him for being such a social butterfly, but really he is just doing recon work for us.
Is there a coach that has had a major impact on you and is responsible for you continuing to play soccer?
Definitely Coach Collins. For one, if it weren’t for him talking to me at Battle of the Bands, I would’ve never fallen back into the sport. But also, he’s always there after every game whether it’s good or bad. He’s always the one telling me and the rest of the team that we’re going to be okay, that it was just one game, and that we’ll get them back next time. He’s always positive and that definitely rubs off. He’s kept the game fun for us, and I thank him for that.
College plans?
I plan on attending Baylor University this fall (Sic’ Em Bears!) and studying Sports Management. Hopefully I’ll be a sports agent one day.
Future soccer plans?
I will probably play intramural soccer or join an adult league, but I will not play NCAA soccer for Baylor. For a while I wanted to play college ball, but I don’t want my entire college life to be about soccer. I want to enjoy my college live and really glean all the knowledge I can from that place.
Have you lived in Oak Ridge forever? Why do you like it here?
I have lived in Oak Ridge since I was 4. We moved away for 18 months when I was 8, but came right back to the same neighborhood. I’ve always loved the area. It’s got some of that small town appeal, while having all the big town perks.
Do you have any favorite teachers?
Every single one of my teachers this year have been amazing. Between Mr. Wetzel in Economics/Government, Mrs. Cox in English, Mrs. Lee in Anatomy, and Mrs. Hollis in Calculus, they have made a profound impact on my life. They each just absolutely adore the subject they teach and it shows in their classroom. They have made senior year so much more enjoyable. I’ve gotten to the point where I look forward to class just to learn from them.
Have your parents been AWESOME?
I love my parents. They’re definitely the best parents out there. They were strict enough to make me a good person, but now that I’m older they relate to me all the time and we’re able to talk for real. My whole family is amazing. My brother is probably the greatest person ever. (He played soccer for Oak Ridge too, and now goes to UT). The best though is when we’re all together at something like Thanksgiving dinner. The whole family goes crazy. I love it. We’re all so alike, and we all find the same things funny so family gatherings are a blast.
You go 100% at all times on the field. You have a problem with players who don’t?
Oh jeez. That’s definitely hitting home with me. I never understand why people don’t give it their all. I have my days where I goof off, but I really understand that practice is just that. Practice is an opportunity to get better, why not use it? Also, in a game, I never understand it when players give up because they’re losing. Every minute of a game is a chance to give it your all, to prove yourself worthy of playing this sport regardless of the winner. I never stop. We’ve been down in games before 6-0 and that’s when I start playing my hardest. That’s when I realize that it’s time to be done making mistakes and going all out. That’s the time when there is nothing to lose, and the time to go big.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’d also like to add that I just love my team. Even when we all argue and fight and no one listens to me, or tries to undermine my authority as captain, I love every single one of them. I’d do anything for them, and they know that. My favorite part about high school sports is that it really doesn’t matter in the long run what your record was or how far you went in the state tournament. What matters is how these kids grow into adulthood and learn discipline, honor, and respect through sports. I’ve watched plenty of players grow up on my team, and I’m sad that I won’t continue to see them grow after this year.
Wait a minute, for a few minutes there, I thought I was interviewing an adult. Come to think of it, I was. Laurin Engle is wise beyond her years and I am proud to call her a friend now. A friend is one that you can ask a question and does not tell you what you want to hear. You’ll always know where you stand with Laurin, she gives you the honest scoop. Brutally honest are two words that describe Engle in a nutshell.
Laurin is awesome and yet another example why the Oak Ridge area is the place to be. Is it any wonder why our community is the fastest growing area in Montgomery County?
Comments to Doug Sarant at doug@oakridgenow.com
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