As Elle McMurrey (9) stepped onto the field to play her first varsity soccer game, Dec. 5, she could feel her nerves setting in and the pressure getting to her. She had been waiting for this moment since she started playing, and it was finally here. She was anxious about getting into position, but the second she heard the starting whistle,  all of her nerves faded and she was ready to play.

McMurrey is currently the only freshman on the varsity girls’ soccer team, which is a rare occurrence at Westview. Very few freshmen are selected to play on the varsity team, and it is even less common for just one of them to be chosen. McMurrey says that she has already improved as a player since joining the team, and has currently worked her way up to starting center defender.

With the team gaining a lot of new players after last season’s loss of their senior graduates, McMurrey wasn’t the only new player who had to get up to speed with the returners, but she was the youngest. For McMurrey, the inviting attitudes of her teammates and the exciting opportunities playing at the varsity level made the transition onto the team feel easier. 

“It’s been very nice on the team; I think everyone has been very welcoming,” McMurrey said. “ It’s been a really cool experience to meet a lot of other players.”

Outside of the high school season, McMurrey plays for San Diego Surf Soccer Club and attends private training. She has been playing soccer since she was 2, taking after her brother and dad who also played the sport. McMurrey says that her parents chose to introduce her to soccer at a very young age and over the years she has only grown to love it more.

When McMurrey joined the varsity team, she faced a number of obstacles including earning playing time, connecting with teammates and coaches, and performing well as an underclassman. Now that it’s further into the season and McMurrey has settled in with the team, she has adjusted to playing with the other varsity athletes. McMurrey says that, since the beginning of the season, she has noticed her skills improve. She has also embraced her role on the team.

“I was a little bit nervous in the beginning because I didn’t know what to expect, but now that I have kind of settled in, I feel more normal and it’s super exciting,” McMurrey said.

High school soccer has proven to be a completely different environment for McMurrey when compared to her previous experiences. 

“I feel like it’s more fun to be with this team because sometimes with club, it’s so competitive I never really get a chance to have fun,” McMurrey said. “Obviously our high school team is still competitive, but we like to have fun too.” 

This season has proved to be a special and memorable one so far for her, and she says she is excited for her future with Westview soccer.

“I can’t wait to continue this season,” McMurrey said, “[I want to] keep playing with everyone, and just keep having fun.”