Incoming SHHS freshman Stefani Crocker honed her athletic skills and broadened her knowledge of the world recently during a two week trip to Australia and New Zealand as a member of the People-to-People Sports Ambassador program.
Crocker, the daughter of Tim and Karolyn Crocker, was one of 16 members of the USA soccer team, athletes ages 16 and under.
“The flight was long but I slept most of the time,” Crocker said. “We started off by training for three days with national professional soccer coaches. It was pretty hard.”
In all, some 400 athletes were participating at various levels.
“The conditioning was in the morning and then we focused on ball handling, shooting and other skill areas,” Crocker said.
This was Crocker’s first overseas trip and the first without her family members. “I’ve been to Mexico before but this was completely different,” she said.
“I got a little nervous a couple days before we left but once I got there, it was great,” Crocker admitted.
During the tournament, Crocker’s team won four games and lost two, both by only one point each.
“We played in the mornings when it was cool because by afternoon it was got pretty warm,” Crocker said. “Our toughest competition was a team from Adalade City, they were all very tall.”
Crocker said she came away from the trip with a greater knowledge of the sport she has played since the first grade and she also had the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of seeing the Sydney Opera House.
“It was great. We enjoyed the tours and the beaches were very warm. We also see the war museum and the harbor. Our days were very full.”
Crocker said the team was made up of young people from across the country, including two others from Oregon.
In addition to soccer, Crocker enjoys dancing, water skiing and racing motocross.
“After high school, I would like to get into writing, photography or dancing,” Crocker said.