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Patel signs with Freed-Hardman

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McKENZIE — Anna Patel signed to continue her soccer career right down the road at Freed-Hardeman University. She has been a part of the McKenzie High School soccer team since she was a sophomore.
“It means the world to me, “Anna said. “This is something I have always wanted to do. I worked so hard during my high school career, so knowing that my time here paid off and I get to play at the collegiate level means the world to me.”
Anna had never touched a soccer ball before her sophomore year of high school, but the sport captured her heart along with the help of her coaches, Karlene Brown and Jeremy Bilger.
“I never even thought about playing soccer until Coach K told me about it. I went out my sophomore year and tried out and that was my first time even touching a soccer ball,” she said.
Throughout Anna’s three years playing soccer, she created a tight bond with McKenzie Head Coach Karlene Brown. Brown mentioned how she was a leader on and off the field and how she impacted her as a person and the whole program.
“Anna Claire has made a great impact on our soccer program. She started out with us and developed into a leader,” Brown said. “She was one of our captains and she led by example. She was always the first to practice and the last to leave. She was always there to encourage her teammates, especially the younger ones. She was there to motivate our students whether they needed a ride or whether to show them what they needed to do or help them with what they needed help with.”
Anna reminded her coach of her younger self through her character.
“She has impacted me so much,” Brown said. “She is a people person and a people pleaser, but she is also a leader. She leads by example. Whatever she wants for herself, she also wants for the other kids. In that way, I see myself in her a little.”
Brown commended Anna in her work ethic and her desire to learn more about the sport.
“As Coach Kelly Spivey said [prior to the signing] once she stepped on that field, her goal was to win. It was always ‘coach what can I do to get better’. That is one of the things I admire most about Anna Claire is she is always hungry for more and hungry to learn. She always wanted to know what she needed to do to play at the next level. She is not only asking for the advice, she implemented it and she got better and better every time.”
During her time on the team, Anna was a part of the 2020 state tournament team, she was chosen as a West Tennessee All-Star player. She also was one of McKenzie’s team captains

Anna recalls her time at the state tournament as her favorite memory throughout the years.
“My favorite memory has to be the time we went to state my sophomore year. It was so much fun getting to play with such amazing girls. When you get to the state level, they are all so good.”
At the college level, Anna plans to study nursing while playing soccer. She is excited to grow as a person and athlete at college, and start practicing with her new team.
“I picked Freed because I think it will be the best college for me to grow, not only academically and athletically, but spiritually,” Anna said. “They have a really good soccer and nursing program and I love how they are a Christian-based college. I’m most nervous about practicing with the girls, but am excited about it too.”
Hunter Thompson, one of her new coaches at FHU, commented about how excited the program is to have her on board.
“Anna Claire comes from a great family and a great program. We are excited to have her at Freed. She is an excellent athlete. Just watching her play she exhibits a lot of things we look for in our athletes,” Thompson said.
Thompson says Anna’s leadership skills on the field are what caught his eye the most.
“Me as a coach I look at the person beneath the character first,” Thompson said. “When I was watching her play at the West Tennessee All-Star game, the first thing I noticed was that she was a team player. She was always picking up her teammates and encouraging them. On top of that, she is a really good player and has tremendous skill. I think she will be really good with our program. I expect her to come in and really develop her talents. I expect her to excel coming into practices and in games.”
Anna is thankful for the chance to play at the next level and is thankful for her family and her coaches that have guided her and stood by her throughout her career and life.
“I owe my success to Coach K and Coach Jeremy Bilger. I would not be here without them. They helped a lot and stood by me and guided me and explained the game of soccer to me.”
Freed-Hardeman is a NAIA team in the MidSouth Conference. The season starts in late August of 2023.