Mead co-captain focuses on team
Mead High School senior soccer player Alyshah Smith is looking back to move forward.
The Panthers’ 2005 season ended just short of a trip to the State 4A tournament, but Smith is drawing her inspiration this fall from a look back at her freshman year, when she played with a group of girls who were close as both friends and teammates.
“I was the most excited during my freshman year,” said Smith, a four-year varsity player. “I didn’t think I’d make the varsity, but I ended up starting the first game and scoring our first goal. I couldn’t believe it, because I’d never felt before that I could actually play with the older girls.
“What I remember most is that we had a lot of seniors and they inspired me, they drove us to play together. I decided then that in my senior year that’s how I wanted to be. We did stuff like camping and going to football games together. This year, we’re trying to do some of that again.”
Smith is one of three Mead captains, selected by last season’s outgoing seniors in a unique Panther tradition. She’s also playing for her third coach in four seasons, Jason Johnson, who ascended to the head position after two years as varsity assistant and JV coach.
Some might see that as a disadvantage, but not Smith.
“I think having different coaches can be a good thing,” she said. “It gives us a new perspective, and we all like Jason as a coach. It’s too bad that Chris (Allen) left, but I think we’ll be fine.
“Last year our seniors were really tough on all of us. They wanted everything to be perfect. Coach Johnson doesn’t want us to be soft, but he doesn’t want the younger players to be scared of the seniors, either. Sometimes last season players were afraid to make mistakes and would break down because others were on them so hard.
“We want our focus this year to be all on the team and not on individual players. My job as a midfielder and as a captain is to communicate with both the backs and forwards on what they need to do.”
Johnson says that Smith has helped to ease the coaching transition both on and off the field.
“Alyshah’s a natural leader,” he said, “and she’s already been a great help in developing my program. She’s excelled in the Shadow program for the last several years and has brought the same work ethic to us.
“Girls look up to her and feel comfortable with her. They go to her and ask her questions, and she’s been great about taking our system and helping it develop on the field. Her success will dictate how successful we can be this year.
“Having someone like Alyshah is huge for a new coach. Her knowledge of the game has helped, but on a personal level she’s taken my style and run with it and has helped others realize that it will work. Veterans like Alyshah can make you or break you.”
The Panthers got off to a strong nonleague start, defeating Mt. Spokane and University without allowing a goal. They have 10 seniors eager to get to the state tournament for the first time and are proud that they’ve set this season’s standards high.
Smith’s focus may be on team success, but she has also earned a large measure of personal recognition from Division 1 programs, including the University of Florida. She hopes to continue her career at that level and beyond: “Once you’ve gone this far, it would be crazy not to continue if you could.”