Columbus North freshman Avery Baker is The Republic Girls Soccer Player of the Year. She is pictured at the BCSC Soccer Complex in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
It didn’t take Avery Baker long to make her impact on the pitch.
The Columbus North freshman found herself in one of the biggest roles this season. Many freshmen shy away from the spotlight, but Baker shined in the opportunity she was given.
It first showed during the summer and training sessions with the team in Baker’s eighth grade year and prior to the start of this season. While North coach David Young didn’t know if she was ready to become a starter, it was Baker’s work rate and the ability to push herself and her teammates at such a young age that made it hard for Young to keep Baker out of the starting 11 this season.
While Baker was a bit surprised that Young named her a starter, she was excited for the opportunity and glad all her hard work paid off.
“You have to keep working hard,” said Baker, The Republic Girls Soccer Player of the Year. “I was one of the smallest people out on that field. You have to put in the extra work, and when it gets rough, don’t give up because if you keep pushing, you’ll eventually get up to their level, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do all season.”
The work that Baker displayed on the field this season gave her many postseason accolades. She was named All-Conference Indiana, North’s Offensive Most Valuable Player at the team’s end of the year banquet and was the only freshman to be named to the All-District 4 Team by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association.
“As a freshman, they are a bit smaller, a bit slower, a bit inexperienced with some of the 17- or 18-year-olds they experience. She had to learn how to play differently this year, as opposed to coming in club and playing with girls her own age,” Young said. “There was a bit of a struggle early on in the season, but once she figured out how to keep defenders off of her to create and work with her teammates, she found more success.”
Baker led the Bull Dogs this season with 10 goals and six assists.
While some may remember Baker netting a hat trick in a game against Southport, she had other goals at critical moments during the season. Baker scored the go-ahead goal with two seconds left in a win against Bloomington North and also a scored the game-winner against Terre Haute North.
Baker credits her teammates and her coaches for helping her have the season she had this year.
“I had incredible teammates, and I couldn’t have done it without all my teammates. They’ve fed me the ball so many times. The coaching was amazing,” Baker said. “When you first start playing, not everyone is going to trust you a ton, but as time goes on, and you practice together, and you hang out together and you talk more, you learn to trust each other more on and off the field.”
Young said Baker typically stayed after practices, watched game film and asked the coaches questions about how to improve and communicate better on the field with her team.
“Avery has got a drive that is going to push her to be even more successful than she was this year,” Young said. “More importantly, the freshman class is probably a tighter knit group that I’ve had since I’ve been here, and I know for a fact that many of those freshmen that are teammates are going to follow her suit. They’re going to go out and work with her. They’re going to push her, she’s going to push them and it’s going to benefit our program.”
Baker has a tremendous love and passion for soccer. She began playing at around 5 years old with Parks and Recreation and currently plays for Columbus Express Soccer Club. She played basketball growing up, as well, but gave it up to focus squarely on soccer.
Baker said she tries to get in two or three practices in a week during the offseason. She mentioned if she wants to put in extra work, she will go to her basement and practice footwork and passing.
“A lot of times, I will kick the ball or juggle for around 30 minutes every day,” Baker noted.
Even though Baker wasn’t satisfied with how this season ended, she is looking forward to growing and building for the future.
“I feel like we have a really good chance because everybody played together last year,” Baker said. “I feel like we’ll really improve over the summer and offseason. I’m really excited for next year. I feel like it’s going to go great.”
The Republic All-Area Girls Soccer team:
Avery Baker, Columbus North: The freshman led the Bull Dogs with 10 goals and six assists.
Page Mora, Columbus North: The junior recorded three goals and one assist.
Paige Terry, Columbus North: The junior posted 42 saves and a 1.13 goals-against average.
Rachel Merritt, Columbus North: The junior netted one goal and two assists and helped a defense that allowed only 25 goals in 17 games.
Amelia Corney, Columbus North: The junior had one goal and two assists and helped a defense that allowed only 25 goals in 17 games.
Allison Kolhouse, Columbus North: The sophomore led a defense that allowed only 25 goals in 17 games.
Anna Donica, Columbus North: The senior recorded three goals and two assists.
Kira VanValkenburg, Columbus East: The senior led the Olympians with six goals.
Nadia Harris, Columbus East: The senior scored five goals and led the Olympians with four assists.
Taylor Scott, Columbus East: The senior netted two goals and three assists while playing all over the field.
Ruth Federle, Columbus East: The senior recorded four goals and two assists.
Kylie Hatcher, Columbus East: The senior led a defense that allowed only 36 goals in 15 games.
Honorable mention
Brown County: Ava Stogsdill, Anna Tipton. Columbus East: Kate Stiles. Columbus North: Grace Merritt, Brooklyn Pendleton, Gabby Spurgeon. Jennings County: Maddie McIntosh, Alayna Phillips. Trinity Lutheran: Kaydence Miller.
