Pillars of perseverance

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By Brittany Brownrigg, November 5, 2009

 “I had my first winning goal this year,” Skene said.

 

On her home turf against Bluffton University, Skene was able to show that hard work and perseverance pay off even when the results are not immediate.

 

Skene’s soccer career started in the fifth grade. Her cousins played and her aunt and uncle coached, and through them Skene got involved in a co-ed team.

 

Her dedication and passion to the game continued to grow over the years and she participated on club teams until high school when she was able to represent her school on the field. Skene was able to play at the varsity level as a freshman at North Putnam High School, a school of about 500 students in Roachdale, Indiana. In 2006, Skene’s senior year, she she was named captain and all-conference.

 

Skene participated in many activities throughout high school.

 

“I was really involved because it was such a small school,” Skene said. 

 

Not only did Skene play on the soccer team in high school, but was also class president, a member of the marching band, and played four other sports. Skene’s school allowed her to play two sports to a season and Skene took advantage of this opportunity in both the winter and spring seasons.

 

In the fall, Skene would concentrate on soccer and marching band. In the winter, she would swim and play basketball. And in the spring she would play softball and participate on the track team.

 

“I was always an athlete,” Skene said.

 

When the time came to pick a college, Skene knew that athletics were a priority in her college selection, and she already knew some family and friends at Franklin.

 

“I knew I wanted to play soccer [in college] . . . soccer was my forte,” Skene said.

 

Skene also said that she felt comfortable at Franklin because she had people already attending from her hometown.

 

“I already knew the campus,” she said.

 

Skene entered the women’s soccer team at Franklin College and was a part of a large freshman class.

 

“We were the largest recruiting class so far, until this year,” Skene said.

 

The first three years of her soccer career at Franklin were not easy ones. The team struggled, and went through multiple coaches. The current coach joined the program just last year. Skene, along with her teammate Rachel Whipker, are the only two seniors left from their original class.

 

“We’re two left of eight,” Skene said.

 

Skene and Whipker have bonded over the years of playing together, and have stuck with the program through some challenging times.

 

“We have such a passion for the game of soccer . . . we’ve worked hard,” Skene said. 

This year Skene not only achieved personal success with her winning goal, but the team also had its first conference win in a number of years and improved on their number of total wins.

 

“Our hard work paid off as a team . . . patience and dedication, that’s all the team needed . . . it’s only going to improve from here,” Skene said.

 

 “I hope that when they graduate they can be proud of the soccer team, because I sure am,” Skene said.

 

Not only was Skene one of the only seniors left on the team, she was also co-captain of the team this season.

 

“I had the honor to be one of the selected captains for our team, and I’m proud to represent FC soccer,” Skene said.

 

Skene not only likes the game of soccer from the field, but from the sidelines as well. She volunteers her time as a coach at two different organizations.

 

“I definitely want to continue coaching . . . it doesn’t really matter what level as long as I’m coaching,” Skene said.

 

Not only does Skene see coaching in her future, she also sees more schooling. Skene will be graduating from Franklin this spring with a degree in Biology to prepare her for predentistry.

 

Skene said she plans to pursue further education after finishing at Franklin.”

 

Skene is looking to become an orthodontist after she finishes all of her schooling.

“I will be applying to dental school this fall,” Skene said.

 

As for now, Skene is moving on after the completion of soccer season to Franklin College’s swim team.

 

Skene has clearly shown the value in never giving up, and sticking with something until the end.