By MEGAN MAHARRY, Student Reporter
Jade Nash is a senior at Northwestern Oklahoma State University from Solihull, Birmingham, England. She is a Health and Sports Science major with a minor in sports psychology. She has been a part of the Lady Ranger soccer team at NWOSU for three years.
Nash grew up in Solihull in England. She said there are some huge differences between there and here in America. She said England was cold and it rained often. She also said the schooling systems are different. Nash said England is all about soccer. She said she and her family were always watching a game on TV, or practicing. Nash said what she misses most about England is the food, especially the food her mother cooked.
Soccer is ultimately what brought Nash to America. She has a long history of playing soccer. She first began playing co-ed soccer when she was 4 because her brother played, and she wanted to prove she could play too. Nash quickly realized how much she loved soccer. When she turned 8, she began playing on an all-girls team. She then began playing on a local team in Solihull. When she was 15, Nash joined a center of excellence squad—a high level of soccer. However, she did not enjoy it. She said it was almost too serious for her. Nash left the squad and was later recruited by a high level amateur team when she was 16. She was the youngest person on the team.
Nash knew she wanted to continue her soccer career, and that is why she chose to attend college in America. She was recruited to play for Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas. She red-shirted her first year and played for one year before transferring to NWOSU.
At first, Nash was not sure if NWOSU was right for her. She contacted the soccer coach at NWOSU and visited the school, but was unsure if she wanted to attend here. After lots of consideration, Nash decided NWOSU was right for her.
“I chose NWOSU, and I wouldn’t look back. I love Alva,” Nash said.
Though Nash’s soccer career has come to an end, she is going to further her education. She plans to obtain a Master’s degree in Adult Education Management Administration with an emphasis in Sports Administration. She is going to begin her Master’s degree at NWOSU, but will also consider traveling elsewhere. Nash hopes to eventually coach college soccer.
Soccer has been one of the biggest aspects in Nash’s life. She was constantly playing or watching soccer.
“It is literally all I ever did when I was growing up,” Nash said.
Nash said her favorite part of playing on soccer teams is making friends. She said she made many of her best friends through soccer. She said it is nice to have people she can relate to.
Nash’s biggest piece of advice to any soccer player or college student in general is never give up.
“Soccer was always there to motivate me,” Nash said.