Ferris senior consistently strong soccer player
To watch Taylor Proctor on a soccer field is to watch a work of steadiness. The Ferris High School senior midfielder has been a major reason the Saxons finished in a four-way tie in the Greater Spokane League regular season standings with Mead, Central Valley and University.
“I’ve definitely developed over my four years at Ferris,” said Proctor. “In most areas, especially in my consistency, I’ve improved.”
“He’s been one of our most consistent players,” said Saxon head coach Robin Crain. “Every game he has played well. He hasn’t had an off game. The fact that he’s one of our top players is proof of that.”
Proctor’s strongest contribution to the team’s success has been his ability to lead the Saxons both offensively and defensively.
“He leads our team in assists, and at the same time he’s one of our strongest defenders,” said Crain. “He leads by example. The guys that work the hardest on their skills inspire the other guys to work hard also. He challenges himself. He tries to take his game to a higher level all the time.”
“I’ve been able to form a leadership role,” said Proctor. “I’ve had to learn in my ability to lead and to teach to the younger guys in every game to give their best.”
This season, the Saxons went 9-2-1 overall, 8-2 in the GSL. Ferris finished the regular season with a 3-1 win over then first-place Mead, as Proctor scored the last goal to seal the victory. It was a satisfying ending after the Saxons had struggled down the stretch.
“We’ve had some setbacks during the course of the season,” said Crain. “We lost consecutive matches to U-Hi and CV. We just need to be patient, get back and finish strong and be the team we can be in the playoffs. We just have to play to our capabilities.”
“Except our two games (against University and Central Valley), we’ve played well everywhere,” said Proctor. “We really do need to work on team flow. When we’ve played well, we really flowed as a team and lately; we’ve got out of that flow. We’re a very skilled team. Most teams don’t know what to do with us when we’re in that groove.”
Proctor has played at the varsity level since his freshman season. It was during those early years in his career he was influenced by several of the Saxons top players whose names dot the all-time stats list in Ferris history.
“There were a couple of seniors, Eric Burke and Joe Hatcher, and the Yonago brothers (Taylor and Kyle),” Proctor said. “They really helped me out because they had a soccer background. I’m still one of the only left footers in the league. Burke played on the left wing like I do, and showed me how to get behind people and beat them to the ball. Those guys really helped me out as to where I was on the field and how to play.”
Outside of the soccer field, the Ferris senior is a big outdoorsman.
“My family has a lake place,” said Proctor. “I’ve been going there since I was a baby. I really enjoy climbing and hiking. I’m a big rock climber. I’ve been up to Deep Creek where the cliffs are like a good 40 to 60 feet (high). I primarily train on indoor walls, though. I go fishing quite a bit. I took coach Crain’s class and learned to fly-fish. It’s really much more of a challenge to fish (that way).”
Proctor, whose soccer career is wrapping up at Ferris this season, will concentrate on his academics next year when he studies architecture and environmental engineering at Montana State, where he’ll get more than a chance to work on his fly-fishing technique.
“I would like to (keep playing soccer),” Proctor said. “I’ve always wanted to be an athletic guy. I’m going to Montana State, but they don’t have a soccer program. I am going to play intramurals, though. I’m going to focus on my academics. I like outdoor things so I’ve thought about going becoming a marine biologist, too.”