When Calli Watson was recruited to kick the extra points for Marshfield football, one adjustment was bigger than the rest.
“I had to be OK with failing,” said the Marshfield soccer senior.
Because here’s the kicker: Calli holds every offensive record for the Lady Jays soccer program, so failure would be something new.
“I play soccer year-round, so I was like, ‘I need a change of pace,'” Calli said. “So I was like, ‘I’ll do it.’ The worst thing that can happen is I’ll miss.”
So much for that. Calli hit 28 of her 31 extra-point attempts. It’s a total most any coach would take from their kicker, boy or girl. It’s no surprise to her special teams coach who is also her head soccer coach.
“She’s a generational athlete,” said Marshfield’s head soccer coach Paul Lewis. “You don’t get those every four years. You get one of those in Marshfield like once in a lifetime.”
It turns out that regardless of the sport, he coaches her the same way. “You let her get the ball and let her go,” Lewis said. “And stay out of the way.”
That’s led to 185 career goals and counting, with nearly an entire senior season to go. But it turns out Calli’s teammates say her big statistics come with a big personality.
“I love Calli, she’s so funny,” said senior Sydney Strain. “She Facetimes me like every day. Like today she Facetimed me after my hair appointment and she was like wondering what I was doing.”
“The reason that we do what we do is she’s that kind of kid,” Lewis added. “She’s just amazing.”
And while nobody has scored more goals in this town than her, you wouldn’t know it by how she treats her teammates.
“She’s very encouraging,” Sydney said. “She always wants you to succeed with anything you do. Even if I mess up she’s very quiet about it and helps me fix it. She’s just overly great, I love her.”
“I want everyone to succeed on this team,” Calli said. “Everyone has so much potential. I just want them to reach that. My momma makes sure I stay in line.”
And the folks at Drury feel the same. Calli can’t wait to play for them too.
“I’m so ready,” Calli said. “I cannot wait to go to college. I’m ready for my next challenge. I feel like I came to high school and did everything I can do here. I feel like I’m ready to go to college and do everything I can do there.”
That may be a little less work since Drury doesn’t have a football team.
