Kloe Hitchcock
Kloe Hitchcock mainly plays on defense during her club soccer season.
The Williamston junior captain is on the opposite side of things this spring for the Williamston High School girls soccer team.
And Hitchcock is enjoying her role as a forward and contributing to the success of the Division 3 No. 4-ranked Hornets, who wrapped up the CAAC White title last week.
“I’ve loved it because I’ve gotten to be able to play a different position that I normally don’t play,” said Hitchcock, who played defense for the Hornets last year. “For me as a player, I love to learn new positions and just being able to widen my experience of playing is really awesome.”
Hitchcock, who was voted the LSJ prep athlete of the week, has tried to use her knowledge and experience on both offense and defense to her advantage and to best aid the Hornets.
“If I was a defender, I would know what a forward would want,” Hitchcock said. “Now that I’m a forward, I know what a defender would want. I can understand multiple positions and help my players on the team as well by knowing that.”
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Playing primarily forward and a little midfield this spring, Hitchcock has been among the key components in Williamston’s offensive success. She ranks among the mid-Michigan leaders in assists and had two goals and two assists last week in wins over Portland and Petoskey.
““For me, I’ve worked so hard my entire life playing soccer through club and everything,” Hitchcock said. “I want our team to succeed so I push myself. Whether it’s giving up that opportunity and instead of being selfish and scoring, I give it up to a person who I know can be able to hit that net and have that perfect shot. If I have the opportunity then I will take a shot too. I just want our team to succeed no matter what.”
It’s that attitude, which Hitchcock said is shared by others on the team, which plays a part in what has been a fun and successful spring for the Hornets.
“It’s just been amazing being able to be on the team because we all love to win and just love to work hard and work together,” Hitchcock said. “We love watching each other succeed. I believe that has really helped us be able to succeed because we push ourselves.”
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
Lansing State Journal prep athlete of the week