Summertime Goals
Four-sport athlete focusing on soccer for awhile
El Dorado’s girls’ soccer season ended at Memorial Stadium in the 5A state semifinals with a disappointing 6-0 loss to state champion Searcy. It wasn’t all bad, however, for London Ingram, who was comforted after the game by kind words from the opposing coach, who said she could be a Division I prospect.
“He said if I just keep up the work I could make it,” Ingram said. “He said he’d never come across anybody as fast as I am and who has that much power. They had to adjust how they were playing to shut me down, which they achieved.
“That was kind of surprising to me that he saw I could get to that level. It really put some brightness into my day after that loss.”
The junior didn’t waste time crying over the loss. Ingram, along with El Dorado teammates Marleigh Bonsall, Julia Jackson and Caroline Meadows, currently suit up for Texarkana Soccer Club, a U17 squad.
It’s Ingram’s second year with TSC, which competed in Frisco, Texas at the US Youth Soccer President’s Cup last weekend.
“We did pretty good until the semifinals but we fell because we ran out of subs. It was really hot and a couple girls didn’t do so well so we had to forfeit. We just let the other team have it,” said Ingram, who had four goals, two assists and forced a penalty kick in the four games.
“I also got some colleges looking at me. The Navarro coach in Texas, she thought I did really good in my first game and wanted me to contact her. So, that’s good.
“The Little Rock soccer coach actually contacted me the day of my last game. She had texted me on Twitter, saying she’d been watching my highlights and she enjoyed them and wanted to talk to me about their program. I’ve also been in touch with John Brown University.”
Ingram was an All-State selection for the Lady Wildcats after scoring 29 goals with 11 assists. She also finished third in the long jump to help El Dorado claim its first-ever state track championship. Ingram also plays basketball and volleyball.
“London is an awesome athlete,”
said El Dorado girls' soccer coach Neville Matthews. “But, she's still growing in soccer. She's young in soccer.”
Ingram's potential in soccer is obvious, even to opposing coaches. She doesn't think playing four sports will hinder her in reaching that potential.
“I enjoy being busy. I don't really get tired of it,” she said. “Yeah, sometimes it's hard juggling everything, school and sports all at once. But I enjoy it a lot. I'll continue to ride it out. If things get uneasy, I'll probably have to drop something. But, so far, it's going good.”
Ingram played soccer and track simultaneously. Soccer was the top priority however and track didn't interfere too much.
“Track isn't that hard. I really enjoy track, especially the long jump. That's my favorite event,” she said. “Track is more like a privilege thing. It's not like a job because I'm just having fun with it. Soccer is my main priority. I focus more on soccer than track because all I have to do is go out there (in track) and have fun and I'll do O.K.”
Ingram's soccer club has more competition scheduled for the summer, including a potential event in Colorado Springs. The Lady Wildcats' volleyball team has started practicing and there are basketball camps scheduled as well.
“I'm getting right back into summer practices and off-season. I've been taking a break from all in-school sports and focusing on my tournaments. But now I'll be heading back to all the in-school sports, working out and keeping my body in shape for next season,” said Ingram.
“My parents always push me to stay into sports. So I never considered dropping anything or giving something up because it's too hard. I just push through.”
When asked about her plate filled with activities, Ingram said it's nothing she can't handle.
“I'm busy all year around. I get no breaks. But, I'm not complaining.”