By Elizabeth Contreras

VYPE: What grade are you in, and how did your soccer journey begin?
Olivia Ellsworth: I’m a freshman. My soccer journey began when I was 5 years old playing at Soccer City.

VYPE: What position do you play?
OE: I play both center back and attacking mid. For a long time, I only really understood center back because it was what I was most comfortable with, but this year at Jenks has helped me become more confident in other positions.

VYPE: When the game is on the line, what do you trust most about yourself as a player?
OE: When the game is on the line, I trust myself to work as hard as I can until the buzzer goes off.

VYPE: What part of your game has improved the most since last season, and what did it take to get there?
OE: Communication was something I needed to improve on, and this year I’ve become a much better communicator on the field.

VYPE: How do you prepare mentally and physically for high-pressure matches?
OE: I prepare in different ways. I pray before every game, and I use breathing techniques and positive self-talk to calm my nerves and remind myself that I can do it.

VYPE: What does success look like for you?
OE: Success to me looks like not being so hard on myself. It also looks like making a difference in the game, no matter how small it might be.

VYPE: What role do your teammates and coaches play in pushing you to be better every day?
OE: My teammates encourage me in everything I do, and my coaches challenge me to keep going and be my best.

VYPE: What have the toughest matches taught you that easy wins never could?
OE: The toughest matches have taught me that sometimes you need to lose in order to improve. They’ve also taught me that pushing yourself against harder competition helps you grow more as a player.

VYPE: What responsibility do you feel to set the tone on and off the field?
OE: I feel like I need to be a leader, a voice for others, and someone people can trust in order to set the tone both on and off the field.