Published: Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Timeout with … Brielle Nicholas, senior, Snohomish soccer
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Brielle Nicholas, senior, Snohomish soccer As the central-back defender for the Snohomish High School girls soccer team, senior Brielle Nicholas has a lot of responsibility. Besides the goalkeeper, Nicholas is the Panthers' last line of defense and must constantly communicate with the keeper and direct her other teammates. Also a talented tennis player, Nicholas hopes to play college soccer. Currently, she is a full-time Running Start student at Everett Community College.
Like so many other high school seniors, Brielle Nicholas is trying to decide where she will go to college and what she will study.
Regardless of her eventual major, Nicholas has a clear long-term aspiration.
“My ultimate goal,” said Nicholas, “is to be a stay-at-home mom and coach my kids.”
Playing soccer has been a blast for Nicholas since she took up the sport at age 5, and the Snohomish High School senior looks up to several coaches she has had over the years. The thought of becoming a mom who mentors young student-athletes — including her future children — is very appealing, she said.
“I just love the sports aspect of it and would enjoy coaching my kids,” said Nicholas, a second-year Panthers co-captain.
Coach’s corner
Based on her strong leadership skills and enthusiasm, Nicholas will be a great coach some day. Nicholas “plays hard at practice and games and that helps get everyone else going,” Snohomish coach April VanAssche said. “Brielle has strong leadership qualities on and off the field and the other players respect her for it.”
Defense never rests
Nicholas is a defender for Snohomish, which leads the Western Conference 4A North Division with a league record of 9-2 and 25 points, one point more than Lake Stevens. Defense has always been Nicholas’ strength. “I have a defensive mind,” she said. “I don’t want the ball to get in my goal. It’s not about scoring goals for me.”
Center of attention
This is Nicholas’ first season playing the center-back defender position. Timid at first, she embraced the crucial role, which makes her the last line of defense other than the goalkeeper. “It’s especially hard,” said Nicholas, “because I need to direct everyone in front of me and really be in touch with my keeper. Whatever she wants done, I need to do it.”
Ace on the court
Besides soccer, Nicholas also plays tennis. This spring she will be a team captain. After playing doubles the last three seasons, Nicholas might switch to singles. “It’s different than soccer,” she said. “It’s a lot more laid-back but at the same time it’s a lot more of a mind game, where soccer is a lot more the outward, physical game.”
See the Hawks
Asked to name her favorite pro team, Nicholas said: “I really do enjoy every sport.” But if she could attend any sporting event, Nicholas would go to a Seahawks game.
On the run
A full-time Running Start student at Everett Community College, Nicholas goes to Snohomish High only for sports practices and games. Her busy schedule prevents from being as involved at Snohomish as she once was. In the past, she was the Panthers’ junior class treasurer and vice president of the One Voice bible-study club. Nicholas also participated in ROSS (Reaching Out to Senior Citizens) and was co-president of RAKE (Random Acts of Kindness, Etc.).
The latter club did little things to cheer up others, Nicholas said, like the time they put peppermint candies on every car in the school parking lot. Attached to each mint was a strip of paper with the message: “Put a pep in your step.”
On to college
After she graduates from high school, Nicholas hopes to attend Northwest University in Kirkland and play soccer for the Eagles. She might study communications.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
Regardless of her eventual major, Nicholas has a clear long-term aspiration.
“My ultimate goal,” said Nicholas, “is to be a stay-at-home mom and coach my kids.”
Playing soccer has been a blast for Nicholas since she took up the sport at age 5, and the Snohomish High School senior looks up to several coaches she has had over the years. The thought of becoming a mom who mentors young student-athletes — including her future children — is very appealing, she said.
“I just love the sports aspect of it and would enjoy coaching my kids,” said Nicholas, a second-year Panthers co-captain.
Coach’s corner
Based on her strong leadership skills and enthusiasm, Nicholas will be a great coach some day. Nicholas “plays hard at practice and games and that helps get everyone else going,” Snohomish coach April VanAssche said. “Brielle has strong leadership qualities on and off the field and the other players respect her for it.”
Defense never rests
Nicholas is a defender for Snohomish, which leads the Western Conference 4A North Division with a league record of 9-2 and 25 points, one point more than Lake Stevens. Defense has always been Nicholas’ strength. “I have a defensive mind,” she said. “I don’t want the ball to get in my goal. It’s not about scoring goals for me.”
Center of attention
This is Nicholas’ first season playing the center-back defender position. Timid at first, she embraced the crucial role, which makes her the last line of defense other than the goalkeeper. “It’s especially hard,” said Nicholas, “because I need to direct everyone in front of me and really be in touch with my keeper. Whatever she wants done, I need to do it.”
Ace on the court
Besides soccer, Nicholas also plays tennis. This spring she will be a team captain. After playing doubles the last three seasons, Nicholas might switch to singles. “It’s different than soccer,” she said. “It’s a lot more laid-back but at the same time it’s a lot more of a mind game, where soccer is a lot more the outward, physical game.”
See the Hawks
Asked to name her favorite pro team, Nicholas said: “I really do enjoy every sport.” But if she could attend any sporting event, Nicholas would go to a Seahawks game.
On the run
A full-time Running Start student at Everett Community College, Nicholas goes to Snohomish High only for sports practices and games. Her busy schedule prevents from being as involved at Snohomish as she once was. In the past, she was the Panthers’ junior class treasurer and vice president of the One Voice bible-study club. Nicholas also participated in ROSS (Reaching Out to Senior Citizens) and was co-president of RAKE (Random Acts of Kindness, Etc.).
The latter club did little things to cheer up others, Nicholas said, like the time they put peppermint candies on every car in the school parking lot. Attached to each mint was a strip of paper with the message: “Put a pep in your step.”
On to college
After she graduates from high school, Nicholas hopes to attend Northwest University in Kirkland and play soccer for the Eagles. She might study communications.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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