By Izzy Schmidt
Gatorade honored Michaela Morris, senior, with the title of ‘Nevada Girls Soccer Player of the Year’ for her achievements and hard work during the fall season. Morris will be featured in the Gatorade Player of the Year Hall of Fame for 2014.
Playing as a forward for the varsity women’s soccer team, Morris scored 45 goals with 18 assists this past fall season alone, totaling 89 goals and 37 assists in her prep career.
“When I found out, I was ecstatic because I honestly thought a girl from Arbor View would win it. I was really happy,” said Morris.
Each year, Gatorade, the maker of sports nutrition products, features superior athletes to be recognized on their website for their achievements. Gatorade energizes and hydrates athletes through their athletic products to help athletes prepare, perform, and recover their best.
In an interview with Gatorade, Morris said that her most memorable moment from the year was scoring the winning goal at the state championship game in double overtime.
Morris is also a three-time All-Southern Nevada member of the U.S. Youth Soccer Regional IV Olympic Development Program.
Morris contributed majorly to bringing the Cougars to the Division I state championship game. She scored the winning goal against Palo Verde High School in the state semi-finals, even after battling a quadriceps injury.
“I just told myself that this could be my last game ever and I need to push through it,” said Morris.
As a valedictorian candidate, Morris has maintained a 4.6 weighted GPA while volunteering for the Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach Catholic Ministry and also Make it Personal Love Bags, giving wellness items to homeless locals. As to her future after Coronado, she has already committed to staying local.
“Next fall, I’m going to be playing for UNLV, and I’m hoping to play in the next level after college,” said Morris.
Her philosophy: players can’t get better without hard work, so she tries to improve each time she puts on her cleats.
