Junior striker Isabel Bassa helped lead the Lady Raiders to an overall record of 17-2 this season as the co-captain attained playmaker status with 17 goals and 15 assists.
VYPE caught up with the talented forward during this quarantine period and asked her thoughts on the past season, moving forward into her senior season and her goals past high school.
VYPE: During this time of quarantine what are you doing as an athlete to stay in shape and keep engaged with your coach and teammates?
Bassa: To stay connected with my coaches and teammates, we FaceTime as well as Zoom meetings. We are also doing a "30 Day Challenge" at the moment to ensure that all current and future players are continuing to exercise during this time. As an athlete, I workout for a minimum of two hours everyday. I incorporate strength, conditioning, footwork, agility, technical work, and soccer in my workout.
VYPE: Explain a typical day in your life with the "stay-at-home" order and how are you engaging with your school work and personal life?
Bassa: A typical day for me during the "stay-at-home" order would be waking up around 9, and then eating breakfast. After this, I do homework and help cleanup the house. Once this is all done, I workout. I like to start off with running and conditioning, followed by a core workout. After, I improve my footwork and agility, then I focus on improving my soccer skills. I focus on dribbling, shooting, footwork, juggling, bringing the ball down, and my first touch for at least an hour. I enjoy having variation in my workouts and try to switch it up everyday.
VYPE: You're heading into your senior season as a returning co-captian for the Lady Raiders. What do you want to accomplish next season on the pitch?
Bassa: Next year, I just want to have fun and not take any moments for granted. This year showed me that we should always expect the unexpected. We were having an amazing season, only having 2 losses (both to 6A teams), but it was unexpectedly cut short due to COVID-19. We were all looking forward to playoffs and dreaming to go back to the State Tournament since last year, but unfortunately that did not happen. As a captain, I want to lead my team to success and become State Champions. It hurts me a lot knowing we did not have the chance this year, and it motivates me even more to want it next year. Since the seniors will never be able to step back on the field as a Lady Raider, I want to win it for them. Next year is my last year, and I want to earn what I have been working towards for the past four years.
VYPE: Lumberton Girls Soccer was having a great season before the coronavirus hit. What, in your opinion, made the season such a great success?
Bassa: It was definitely our drive. We all wanted that ring, and we all knew that the only way that we were going to get there was working harder than any other team. We all relied and trusted each other to give it our all. Not only were we working hard for ourselves, but it was for each other, parents, friends, school, and especially our coaches. We all know how hard and relentless they work to ensure that we are the best team possible. Coach Hopson and Coach Scoggin are our role models, and we want to make them proud for what the have been working for. They proudly do what they do for us, and we wanted to show our appreciation towards them by bringing home the State Champion title.
VYPE: You will be graduating next year in 2021, what is your 2-5 year plan? Where would you like to play at the next level and why?
Bassa: My plan is to graduate high school and play soccer at the college level. I would love to play at Texas State University, because that has been my dream school for the longest time, and I love the area and campus. I want earn a degree in biology, and I aspire to become a radiologist.
VYPE: What do you want your legacy to be at Lumberton once you graduate next season?
Bassa: I just want to be remembered as someone who always worked hard, and gave it their all. I hope that at the end of my days, my teammates feel like they had a good leader. One that was listened to them, caring, available, focused, supported them to dream big, and comforted them when it all felt a little too hard. I just want to be able to look back, and be proud of what I've done.
