CALEDONIA — Caledonia senior Blair Ward looked at the three envelopes in front of her — each containing an acceptance letter — and the choice became clear.
“‘The W feels right,” Ward thought to herself.
The application to play soccer at the Mississippi University for Women was in the envelope when she opened it, and she told her mom, Tiffany Ward, that she was going to fill it out.
Tiffany was shocked — “I’m the most indecisive person ever,” Blair said — but her daughter had no doubt. Ward had opportunities to be a typical business student at Itawamba Community College or Northeast Mississippi Community College, but she chose to follow the path that allowed her to play the sport she loves at the next level. A week and a half ago, The W accepted her letter of intent to play soccer, and Thursday morning, Ward held her signing ceremony to the school with her mom, her sister Eva and her brother Gavin by her side.
“It means a lot to me that I get to keep playing,” she said.
In addition to being able to continue her soccer career, Ward said knowing some of her future Owls teammates played a role. She’ll also team up with fellow Caledonia seniors Maddy Suggs, who will play volleyball and softball at MUW, and Camryn Johnson, who will play volleyball. Ward has known Johnson her whole life, and soon after deciding to attend, she found other connections to the school, too. People she knew from church worked in MUW’s financial aid and admissions offices.
“Everything started to fall into place,” Ward said.
But she wasn’t sure that the school would let her play soccer — MUW is currently undergoing a coaching search for its soccer program, compounding the process. Then she got the email that she’d be able to play.
“I wasn’t expecting this at all when I signed up to go there,” Ward said.
The left center back will bring her leadership qualities and defensive skills to the Owls next season after helping Caledonia reach the second round of the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs this season. Voted captain by her teammates, Ward played a key role in the Confederates’ 15 wins — including 13 clean sheets.
“She was a major part of that back there as a center back,” Caledonia coach Thomas Blake said.
Blake added that Ward is “really smart, really engaged (and) really understands everything that’s going on around her.” When she goes on to The W in the fall, he has high expectations.
“I know she can be great,” Blake said.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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