Two years from now, when Paige Waskom is suiting up for the women’s soccer team at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she’ll be on the attack constantly as the team’s striker.
Waskom sits back in more of a midfield role for Center Grove, but she’s still able to inflict plenty of damage on opposing teams.
“We saw more than enough,” said Greenwood coach Joe Mushrush, who got victimized by the Trojan junior in a 12-0 sectional rout.
Waskom dominated all over the pitch in 2018 while helping Center Grove return to the Class 3A regional final. For her efforts, she is the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year.
Though she did play a little deeper for the Trojans, content to watch teammates Macy Detty and Jostin Reeves (45 combined goals) do the bulk of the finishing, Waskom still played a pivotal role in the team’s explosive offense, both as a table-setter and a finisher. She wound up with 12 goals and 13 assists on her way to second-team All-State honors.
No matter where she is on the field, Waskom is almost always in attack mode.
“When I get the ball at my feet, I love to turn and take players on and I really like getting into the attacking third where our defense can kind of sit back and regroup,” she said.
During her club season, Waskom plays in an attacking midfield position, a nice balance between her present role with the Trojans and the one she’ll play at the next level.
She’s proven that she’s completely comfortable regardless of what spot she’s place in.
“She was definitely our powerhouse,” senior teammate Alainna Frankel said. “She doesn’t get all the credit she deserves since she’s a center mid, but I think without her, we definitely would have struggled a lot more, because we went through her a lot.”
Back next fall for one last high school campaign, Waskom is still hopeful that she can lead Center Grove to the state championship that has eluded it thus far.
She’s looking forward to being able to focus completely on her on-the-field business, having put the recruiting process completely behind her.
“We’ve got the coaching staff that we need to get us to the place that we need to be, and then we’ve got the players,” Waskom said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”All-County team” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The 2019 All-County team for girls soccer:
Mattie Arcand, Franklin senior: Anchored the back row for the Grizzly Cubs on defense, serving as a team captain for a young team during a rebuilding season.
Macy Detty, Center Grove junior: Led the sectional champion Trojans with 24 goals scored, adding eight assists … Earned All-MIC and second-team All-District honors.
Tori Graber, Greenwood sophomore: Tied for the team lead with seven goals, pacing the young Woodmen to a somewhat surprising eight-win season.
Katelyn Jansen, Center Grove senior: Provided a rock-solid midfield presence while chipping in four goals and seven assists … Named to the All-District second team.
Emily Karr, Center Grove freshman: Made an immediate impact on offense, contributing 13 goals and 10 assists in helping the Trojans to a regional final.
Addie Marshall, Franklin sophomore: Was named to the All-District first team after making an absurd 195 saves, keeping the young Grizzly Cubs in many a game despite heavy pressure.
Emily Metzger, Greenwood freshman: Gave the Woodmen an instant jolt offensively, leading the team with seven goals and five assists on the way to all-conference recognition.
Peyton Murphy, Center Grove: Led the high-scoring Trojan offense with 17 assists, including four in a win over Plainfield … Also scored five goals for the Class 3A regional finalists.
Cameron Northern, Greenwood Christian senior: Scored a county-best 49 goals and added 16 assists for the Cougars, earning all-conference honors … Finished her career with 108 goals and 42 assists.
Jostin Reeves, Center Grove senior: Ranked second on the team with 21 goals and dished out eight assists … Named to the All-State and All-District first teams and earned all-conference honors.
Paige Waskom, Center Grove junior: Was a first-team All-District and All-MIC pick and also made the All-State second team … Finished with 12 goals and 13 assists out of the midfield.
Kelti Wise, Center Grove senior: Yielded just 22 goals in her final season while making 64 saves, anchoring the Trojan defense on the way to a 17-3-1 record and a return to the regional final.
Honorable mention
Alicia Ader, Greenwood; Elizabeth Andersen, Center Grove; Cassie Bigelow, GCA; Ellie Bigelow, GCA; Merritt Emrich, Whiteland; Kayli Farmer, Center Grove; Alainna Frankel, Center Grove; Savvanah Frye, GCA; Emma Genter, Franklin; Adeline Jolley, GCA; Josie Ochsner, Greenwood; Bri Poore, Center Grove; Sarah Turcotte, Whiteland
[sc:pullout-text-end]
