The St. John’s Country Day women’s soccer team has won 11 consecutive state championships and recognizes the family atmosphere and coaching of USWNT players.
ORANGE PARK, FL — Few First Coast teams have earned more prize money than the women’s soccer team on St. John’s Country Day. And her 11-time defending state champion in the national rankings makes winning on the football field a family affair.
They proudly say they want to be champions. But Head his coach Mike Pickett has a solid hold on to championship-level players.
“It’s more about sport than anything else, not life,” says Carson Pickett, a class of 2012 graduating class at St. John’s Country Day. You are not defined by your performance.Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not good enough.”
This team is so good that they can do almost anything on the football field in recent years. It helps to have multiple Division 1 athletes on the team each year. Including those who have returned to help the coach.
“Having the opportunity to coach with my father is a dream come true,” Pickett says.
Pickett is also a member of the US Women’s National Team and the daughter of the head coach. She helps her father coach the team before she leaves to train with the professional team.
“She’s been a huge help with this program, helping other girls understand how things will be when you reach a higher level.
But Carson isn’t just teaching soccer techniques on the field, he’s imparting wisdom about life.
“As my father would say, let no one turn your sky into a ceiling,” says Carson Pickett.
Born without a left forearm, Carson’s awareness of his handicap didn’t turn the sky into a ceiling. It’s the message that brought her to her national team, and it’s also the message she shares with her next champions.
“She proved to us, proved to multiple people, proved to the world that you can do anything,” says Mateo.
“I have three championships. I thought it was amazing at the time. Some of these girls have six, even seven,” says Carson Pickett. . they are winners. ”
There’s still a lot of football going on this season, but it’s good to look back at all this program has achieved as it grows together.
“It’s cool to see a practice, work really hard for it, and do it with your best friend,” says Avery Raimond, senior at St. John’s Country Day.
And that’s the feeling they’ll share with the next pack of champions in the future.
“When my former players get together, they never talk about state championships or games,” says Mike Pickett. It’s a life lesson and it’s the journey that counts. ”
