In Their Words: 2022 Soccer Seniors

KIARA GONZALES

My time here at Texas State was nothing short of memories, laughter and meeting forever friends. As I look back on my years, I'm forever grateful for the ups and downs I faced alongside these girls. Each year had a lot of learning blocks. Coming into college I’m grateful to have had  support and love from home while I was learning how to really be a student-athlete. If it wasn’t for the many hours we spent at study hall freshman year I wouldn’t have started to grow the friendship that I have with the girls of my class today. I’ve developed many life skills from my time here and from the help of my friends that I will carry for the rest of my life.

Realizing that my four years have not been the usual student-athlete experience – from having our freshman year cut short, having to go home to quarantine and being in isolation for 6 months to being online for almost two years of school and to having a coaching change – I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I faced a lot of adversity these past four years, but I’ve gained a lot of knowledge and lasting friendships that I can’t thank Texas State enough for. I’ve enjoyed representing Texas State alongside these girls and I cannot wait to see what life has in store for us in the future. 

LINDSEY SALISBURY

When I was younger playing college soccer was just a dream, a vision I had in my head of the life I wanted. When I got older, I attained these dreams and the dreams turned into reality. I committed to play at Texas State during my sophomore year of high school. It was one of my first offers and I was so excited a school wanted me to play for them-- I accepted the proposal a month after the offer. When I had my official visit to the campus, it felt like home and any anxieties about making the right decision vanished. 

The hasty decision turned fruitful over these past four years of playing for the Texas State soccer team. I not only grew as a player but more importantly as a person. I learned a lot of hard lessons, to say the least, but they are the most important ones. Finding positives in life when you are tired and beaten down and realizing that not everything worth it in life is easy; are the main lessons I learned. If it seems like I am drawing only a negative side to my experience, that is not my intention, but to acknowledge that my time here wasn’t easy and for that made me stronger is better than anything else I could have received. 

There has also been lots of laughter and joy during my time here. I made fond memories on and off the field with my teammates. Things like Dog Patch Olympics, talent shows, and going to the square together, as well as the frantic laughter during six am practices, still echoes in my mind and probably will for a long time. I made friends here, people who shared a common struggle—the life of a college athlete – and we helped each other through it. I wouldn’t trade my time here at Texas State. I don’t think there is any other place I would have wanted to spend my last four years. I became my own person, learned hard lessons, and made life-long friendships.

KAMARIA WILLIAMS

My time here at Texas State has been very rememberable. I have had the opportunity to play soccer at a high level while furthering my academic career while creating long lasting friendships. These friendships are something that I will hold close to my heart forever. The time we have spent on the field together with all the blood, sweat, and tears is what made us strong together. The time off the field such as, going to Chuy's, going to the river, and going to other sporting events is what bonded us forever. These moments and times are what I’m truly grateful for that Texas State has brought to me. 

Along with making lifelong friends, Texas State has provided me with the opportunity to expand my academic career as the professors here really push us students to our best potential. The school has also provided me with various tools and resources that I needed in order for me to excel in the classroom. Beyond the classroom, Texas State has taught me the ways to present myself in the future in terms of job opportunities, meeting higher official and so on. 

As this time must come to an end, I will always remember how great it is to be Bobcat. I will always cherish the moments of being surrounded by those who care for me and want to support me. I will always cherish the moment of signing the fight song with my fellow peers where we acknowledge the greatness of being a Bobcat.

AVERY THIES

My time here at Texas State has formed me into the person I am today. I came to Texas State as a walk-on for soccer and was unsure of how my time here was going to go. But I was very excited and ready to take on this new chapter of my life.

About a week into preseason, I was called into my coach’s office and she ended up offering me a scholarship. This was very encouraging to me and proved that my hard work had been paying off. My freshmen year was definitely a year of growth for me and an adjustment period regarding both soccer and being away from home. All of us freshmen became really close, and it was such a fun time for us all living together and enjoying our first year of college. There were sometimes where it was not all sunshine and rainbows, but most of this stemmed from adjusting to the major changes I was going through. Having our team as a tight-knit group of friends right when I entered college really helped me feel comfortable and right at home.

The spring of my freshmen year is when I think that I solidified myself as a player as I was transitioned into a center back role rather than an outside back. At this new role, I felt comfortable and really found my spot on the field. Unfortunately, about halfway through the spring the pandemic hit and we were sent home until July when we returned for summer workouts.

The Sun Belt was one of only a few conferences that had a normal season that year and it kind of feels like a blur. A good thing that came out of it though was that our team got really close because we were basically in a bubble and spent a lot of time together. By the spring of 2021 things were mostly back to normal. Sophomore year was really fun because I lived in a five-bedroom apartment with Bailey, Kiara, Kamaria, and Madison (Humphrey). We made a ton of memories that year ranging from killing cockroaches to movie nights in our living room.

Next, my junior year included a lot of changes for the team. After our conference tournament, we went through a coaching change and were without a head coach for about three months. This was definitely a time of uncertainty, and I was fearful about how these changes would affect the team. Luckily, we got such an amazing new coaching staff who has changed the program for the better. I feel like with these changes everyone had a new spark within them, and it has definitely shown.

Starting my senior season, we have broken school records and are having a great year. I am excited for us to finish up conference, go to the tournament and win! At the same time, I am trying to enjoy all of my “lasts” with soccer this season knowing I am going to miss it so much. I have made lifelong friendships through this program, have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of.

Going into my next chapter of life, I feel like my time here at Texas State has prepared me very well to take on anything I encounter. I have plans to go to Physical Therapy school in the Summer of 2023 and am really excited for this next part of my life, but I know a part of me will always miss my time here at Texas State.

BAILEY PESCHEL

From the moment I stepped foot on a soccer field at 7 years old, I knew it was the sport I wanted to play for the rest of my life. I had tried many sports as a kid, but soccer was the one I fell in love with. During my freshman year of high school, I decided I wanted to play soccer in college. I wanted to go somewhere where I wasn’t just a number, and somewhere that the team felt like a family. I was beyond excited after committing to Texas State. I knew Division I soccer would be challenging, but I was thrilled to have the opportunity to compete at the highest level. I have always been a hard worker, and I strived to do my best to prepare for college soccer through my training.

I still remember the feeling of my first college goal. After the past week and a half working hard in two a days, we finally had the chance to compete in a game. I was just a young freshman, but I was determined and wanted to go into the game and make a difference. A few minutes after entering the match, one of my teammates crossed me the ball and I one-touched it into the back of the net. The excitement of the ball hitting the back of the net was indescribable. The goal was the lone goal and the game winner. In this moment, I knew that my success would be a direct result of my hard work. It showed me that anything is possible when you put your mind to it.

Soccer is about so much more than just the wins and the goals. I will always cherish the friendships, laughs, and memories that I have made with my teammates. From two-a-days, to waking up at 4:30 a.m. for spring practice, to laughing at the smallest things, we have been together through so many moments. I remember coming in as a freshman and looking up to the seniors who welcomed me to the team and took me under their wing. As a senior now, I hope to be someone who makes my teammates feel the same way. 

Academically, the resources and support Texas State provides have helped me prepare for life after college. Each professor I had was very supportive and truly cared about my success. I will graduate in December with my bachelor’s degree in accounting and the following December with my master’s in accountancy. I have a job lined up when I graduate with Ernst & Young, one of the Big 4 accounting firms. 

After tearing my ACL, my senior season has turned out differently than I hoped, but I am a faithful person and I believe that everything happens for a reason. I wish I could be on the field more than anything, but I have taken on a new role on the sidelines cheering my teammates on every step of the way. I am now working hard in PT and counting down the days until I can run and play again. My teammates and coaches have been some of my biggest supporters throughout this process, and I am so grateful to have them by my side. I learned my freshman year that success is a direct result of the hard work you put in. As I work to recover, I will carry this attitude with me the whole way. I hope to make a comeback to play for my fifth year.

The past four years playing soccer at Texas State have truly been the best years of my life. I am so lucky to be a part of such an amazing group of people. 

Thank you to the 2022 soccer seniors for all of what you have done to grow the program!