GAMES
RANKINGS
RECRUIT SCOOP: Kara Rao, West Brook Soccer
Kara Rao helped lead the #2 ranked West Brook Lady Bruins to a solid season on the pitch, holding opponents to only 10 goals on the season through 22 games. Rao was also a solid contributor to head coach Adam Bell's offensive machine, contributing eight assists from her back position.
Bell identified Rao's ability as a, "great attacking player who has the ability to pinpoint players with passes and long balls to support the attack. Unselfish teammate, who puts the teams needs above her own."
VYPE caught up with Rao during this quarantine period to get her thoughts on the soccer season, and what the Lady Bruins can look forward to with next season.
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?
Rao: Every morning our coach would send us a workout for us to do for the day. The girls on the team have a separate group message without our coach that we talk in all the time. Every once in a while we would have a zoom meeting with the whole team to just see how everyone is doing and to see each other's faces.
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?
Rao: A typical day in the life at home for me would be, when I wake up I eat and then start on homework. After I finish with the homework I have due for the day, I will do the workout my coach sent us and then just watch tv and play with my puppy for the rest of the day.
VYPE: You were one of the top players in SeTX on the #2 ranked West Brook Bruins, what do you remember most of this season as a top defender in the area?
Rao: What I remember most from this season is how well the team worked together. A lot of us have known and played with each other since before high school. I believe this helped us have a very successful season. Everyone on the team was friends with everyone, so it was just a great experience being able to play with the people closest to you.
VYPE: West Brook Soccer had a great season before the coronavirus hit what, in your opinion made the season such a great success?
Rao: One main thing that made our season so successful was our new coach, Coach Adam Bell. He traveled from the Houston area everyday to be able to coach our team. He motivated and pushed us to be the best we could be. He brought structure that the team just didn't have before he came.
VYPE: What do you want your legacy to be at West Brook?
Rao: I would want my legacy at West Brook to be that I was a team player, that I was someone everyone could count on during the game. I tried my best to be someone who could provide support to the offense and also be someone who the team could trust in the defense and not worry about us being scored on with me on the back line.
RECRUIT SCOOP: Kaylee Landry, PNG Soccer
Kaylee Landry ends a four year run at Port Neches-Groves as the team's all-time leader in assists and helped the Lady Indians to an undefeated district season in 21-5A. PNG solidified their #3 area ranking with a season sweep over rival Nederland earlier this spring before the quarantine period.
VYPE caught up with Landry recently to talk about her legacy at PNG and what her future holds.
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?
Landry: During quarantine I have kept up with our workouts from coach Fruge at PNG. About 3 times a week we would have zoom meetings to keep in touch and keep ourselves going.
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?
Landry: A typical day for me starts with a workout, then I keep myself busy by painting or doing puzzles. I usually finish all of my school work by Tuesday, so I can have the week off. Recently, me and a few people have been playing soccer tennis to get out of the house.
VYPE: You just completed your senior season as the Lady Indians career assist leader after a four year varsity career, what do you want to accomplish at the next level?
Landry: The next level for me consists of moving off to College Station to continue school. I plan on going for business and finance.
VYPE: PNG Girls Soccer was having a great season before the coronavirus hit (17-7-1. 10-0). What, in your opinion, made the season such a great success?
Landry: This season has been our best one yet. We all connected as a true soccer family. It was full of trust and we all played with heart. We put in work on and off the field. Our team has always been positive and we never let someone bring us down.
VYPE: What do you want your legacy to be at PNG?
Landry: My legacy at PNG was to be seen as a hard worker. I always put in 100% even on the hard days. I also wanted to be seen as a leader for the rest of the team and show them that they could count on me on and off the field for anything they needed.