One adjustment was bigger than the others when Kari Watson was scouted to kick extra points for Marshfield football.
“I had to be okay with failure,” said the Marshfield soccer senior.
Because here's the kicker. Cali holds every offensive record in the Lady Jays' football program, so a failure would be something new.
“I play soccer all year round, so I thought, 'I need a change of pace,'” Cali said. “So I thought, 'Let's give it a try.' The worst thing that could happen is that I miss out.”
that's all. Cali made 28 of 31 extra point attempts. That's a total amount that any coach, boy or girl, would take away from a kicker. That's no surprise to the special teams coach, who is also her head football coach.
“She's a generational athlete,” Marshfield head soccer coach Paul Lewis said. “You don't get it every four years. At Marshfield, you get something like a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
It turns out he coaches her the same way, no matter the sport. “She just let her get the ball and let her go,” Lewis said. “And she stays out of the way.”
This brings his career goal total to 185, and with almost his entire senior season remaining, that number continues to rise. But it turns out Cali's teammates say her big stats come with a big personality.
“I love Cali. She's so funny,” senior Sydney Strain said. “She Facetimes me almost every day. Like today, after her hair appointment she Facetimed me and wondered what I was doing. It seemed like it was.”
“The reason we're doing this is because that's the kind of kid she is,” Lewis added. “She's really amazing.”
No one in this town scores more goals than her, but you wouldn't know it by the way she treats her teammates.
“She's very encouraging,” Sydney said. “She always wants you to succeed in whatever you do. Even if I fail, she's very silent and fixes me. She's really great, I love her.” I am.”
“I want everyone to be successful on this team,” Cali said. “Everyone has great potential. I just want them to get there. Mommy makes sure I stay in line.”
And the people of Drury feel the same way. Kalli can't wait to play for them too.
“I'm ready,” Kari said. “I can't wait to go to college. I'm ready for the next challenge.'' I feel that I am.”
Drury doesn't have a soccer team, so that might be a little less work.
