Throughout the career of an athlete, there are a variety of unplanned things that can happen to knock things off course. Whether it be an injury, a coach leaving, or something else, these types of things can be a struggle for some athletes mentally. But for Bryleigh Wells, she says she has learned not to let that kind of stuff deter her. 

“My mom and my sister are big influences on my life,” she said. “They both have taught me to always rise above things when it comes to traumatic or difficult situations. That is something that will help me, not only athletically, but also in everyday life.”

Wells is a junior at Elgin High School. She plays goalkeeper on the Lady Owls’ soccer team. She said she has played the game for about ten or eleven years and still enjoys it as much as she did when she first started playing. 

Elgin girls soccer coach, Stevi Snare, says that Wells is a big-time asset for the team and is always ready to help others.

“Bryleigh is the type of teammate who helps others be their best,” Snare said. “She’s always willing to help out and is a very kind-hearted kid. She’s a natural-born leader and a very strong athlete that continues to work to always get better. She’s extremely coachable and wonderful to work with.”

Becoming the athlete she is today has required a lot of hard work from Wells, but for her, it comes down to three words.

“Patience, persistence, and practice,” she said. “Those three things have been vital for my growth as an athlete. Without any one of them, I would not be the athlete I am today.”

As an Elgin student, Bryleigh has sat through many teacher’s classes over the years. She says that there is one teacher that she would call her favorite.

“Mrs. Rucker is my English teacher,” she said. “She taught us that we are always stronger than we think and that we can grow up to do anything we set our minds to.”