Sophomore business administration major Ava Whisten plays offense for the Elizabethtown College women’s soccer team. Whisten has spent the last 15 years of her life playing the game she adores,which is almost all of her life. She had a natural interest in soccer and started playing at a very young age.

“I’ve been passionate about soccer ever since I first started playing it in kindergarten and I could not imagine my academic career without the craft,” Whisten said. The sophomore’s love for soccer was instilled in her at a young age, and it is evident that she wished to spend as much time as she could around the sport.

Whisten, a native of Wayne, N.J., continued her soccer career through high school before joining the Etown women’s soccer team. Whisten continued to play soccer throughout high school, and it was during this time that she understood she could advance her playing career.

When questioned about her favorite aspects of playing soccer, Whisten emphasized the important connections she has formed over the many years of her playing career. She has always placed a strong emphasis on being a team player both on and off the field. Her favorite memory from her time as a Blue Jay athlete would have to be beating Susquehanna University in penalties to make it to the Landmark Conference Finals.

When asked how playing soccer for Etown has shaped her athletic career, Whisten replied, “Playing at Elizabethtown has shaped me into being able to perform at a high level consistently and has shown me that you must work hard to earn what you want.” The potential for the sophomore forward and the Etown women’s soccer program is limitless going forward.

Whisten said, “I just want to be a part of this amazing program and give back as much as I can as a good teammate and to what Etown soccer represents.”

Whisten has a specific ritual she performs before each game day. She inscribes something motivational on her wrist, which she utilizes to stay inspired throughout the game. This is an excellent illustration of how Whisten displays herself as a driven athlete committed to her personal development.As for the rest of the season, Whisten shares that her goal is to make it back to Landmark Conference Finals and win a Championship.