Fifteen-year-old sports fanatic Stacey Barron leads a life of fun and games. The athletic competitions that began as a hobby to fill her spare time are turning into a career as she picks up award after award. With every new trophy her future gets a little brighter.
Stacey goes to school in Michigan City but her heart is in Portage. She lives here with her family and goes to sporting events at the school.
“Sports have that effect on people,” she says. “It brings everyone together. Everyone goes to the homecoming game.”
She thinks Portage is a city worth living in. Stacey moved here at age six from Hammond and she quickly made friends. The town is filled with things for kids to do, like see a movie or visit the shoreline.
Just as Stacey considers Portage an asset, Portage considers her one as well. Her hard work and good grades earned her Summa Cum Laude at her private school in Michigan City. It is a title that opens doors to certain scholarships and sets a student’s college application apart. Stacey said it felt awesome to get a recognition that only a few others at Marquette Catholic school have been able to achieve.
She attributes her success to sports. “I learned everything about life with a ball at my feet,” she says, reciting a popular quote that rings true for many athletes.
Stacey’s dedication to her teams has won her awards in basketball, softball, and soccer. She was given the Marksmen Award in basketball for her 2 pt average as posted on Max Preps, the online stat recorder for all the teams. Her soccer stats are also posted online, and won her the Top Team Player Award.
In softball, Stacey plays the positions of catcher and shortstop at a Varsity level. Her coach knew of her gifted athletic ability and asked her to join the team despite the fact that Stacey was only a Freshman. She helped her team place first in the league, receiving the All-Conference Award.
Soccer is where Stacey has planted her future. She wants to play at a professional level someday and is already searching for a college that will take her there. Stacey is considering Notre Dame, because its renowned Sports Medicine program would be a good compliment to her athletic ambitions.
Stacey plays as both a forward and a midfielder in soccer. She earned an invite to the Indiana Elite North vs South soccer game last year, which is an honorable place on a drafted team of all-stars. They play one game, with the best players from the best teams. Colleges send scouts to these games to find new talent. It is an amazing opportunity for an athlete to showcase her ability and earn further recognition. It also looks good on a relevant resume.
Her coach gave her the Coaches Award, because of her reliability and commitment to the team. Stacey says they have a close relationship. Her coach sees herself in Stacey, and Stacey looks up to her mentor as an inspiration.
Her parents are another strong motivator for Stacey. Sometimes her demanding schedule overwhelms her, or an injury makes her want to give up on her goals. Stacey’s parents remind her, “This is just another obstacle in life. You will play the next game like you do every other.”
They are good words to live by. Life is not all fun and games for Stacey but she is privileged enough to be able to do something she enjoys, surrounded by people who support her aspirations. Obstacles may come her way but rest assured, she will find a way to dribble around them.