By BYRON BEERS
Collinsville senior Courtney Priest has played soccer for 15 years and has also been an athletic trainer for the Cardinals’ football team for two years.
But her work in the classroom has always been her top priority.
“As a student athlete, my grades have always been a top priority,” Priest said. “Through hard work and a good balance between practice and studying, I’ve accomplished a personal goal of making all A’s throughout high school.
“I’ve accomplished my academic goal of maintaining a cumulative GPA of 4.0 thus far, and I achieved a longtime aspiration of becoming a Valedictorian.”
On the field, Priest, an all-district defender in her fourth year as a starter, wants to be part of school history with the soccer program. She helped Collinsville claim its first district championship in program history and also reach the state semifinals in 2022.
“Athletically, I’ve accomplished my goal of being a four year starter for the varsity soccer team and hope to be part of the first Collinsville girls’ soccer team to make the state playoffs, three years in a row,” she said.
The Cardinals are currently 8-5 under head coach Jennifer Christian. They recently had won five straight games, each by a shutout, before falling to Coweta, 2-1, on April 18. The Cardinals are 5-1 in District 5A-4.
“Individually, I have been very satisfied with this season and my overall performance as a defender. From a team standpoint, I am very grateful to have such a close team with great chemistry, on and off the field,” Priest said. “I feel truly blessed to be part of this team. We are a family!”
Priest enjoys scrimmaging against her teammates when not playing a game. She has improved on her footwork and ball control as she’s gained experience.
“I love to scrimmage against my teammates, because we are constantly pushing each other to get better,” she said. “A few of my strengths include being aggressive, positioning, and overall competitiveness. Over the years, my footwork and ball control have improved.”
American track and field star Allyson Felix is Priest’s favorite athlete.
“Allyson Felix is one of the fastest women in the world. She went on a break and came back to break records. She is a great example of an athlete who perseveres and works hard. She demonstrates that if you put the time in, it pays off,” Priest said.
Priest, whose favorite soccer memory is a last-second slide tackle she made to help lift the Cardinals to a win, fits right in at Collinsville High School.
“I love the Collinsville community and the support they show for our team,” she said. “There is no better place to go to school and play ball!”
Away from soccer, Priest enjoys spending time with friends and loved ones. She also likes to golf, go to the gym and spend time on the lake.
She hopes to take the Cardinals a step further in her final season.
“Last year, we made it all the way to the state semifinal game in the state playoffs. This year, I hope my team and I can make it back and maybe go even further,” Priest said.
Following high school, Priest plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in kinesiology. She later plans on becoming a physical therapist.
