Athletes of the Week: Rachel Short-Miller and Mikaela Zook

IT Department | September 29, 2014 | Sports | No Comments

Soccer players of the week — Mikaela Zook and Rachel Short-Miller. Photo courtesy of Elisabeth Wilder

by Kymee Noll – Horizon Sports Editor

The Hesston College women’s soccer team had a slow start to the season, but are making headway with two recent wins to Cowley Community College and Indian Hills Community College. Sophomore forward, Rachel Short-Miller, and freshman all-state player from Indiana, Mikaela Zook, have been critical players in the team’s two victories.

Coach Bryan Kehr looks to Short-Miller (Bellingham, Wash.) for her valuable leadership skills.

Sophomore Rachel Short-Miller. Photo by Masayo Satoh

“Rachel is the leading scorer from last year and is also a candidate for Academic All American,” Kehr said.

Courtney Wengerd, a sophomore from Goshen, In. has gotten to know Short-Miller well over the course of their two years at Hesston.

“Rachel is constantly taking the ball up the field; it seems like she never runs out of energy. She gives everything she’s got, which encourages the rest of us to play to our potential.” Kehr said.

In the team’s 2-1 win over Cowley College, Short-Miller scored the winning goal in overtime, giving the team their first burst of energy for the season. She also added two more goals to her stats as well as an assist while leading the team to a 6-0 shutout against Indian Hills College.

Zook was leading the team alongside Short-Miller, scoring the first goal in the victory over Cowley College. As well as the goal in the season’s first win, Zook had a goal and an assist against Indian Hills.

Kehr believes Zook is very skilled and athletic. She is also a versatile player, usually beginning the game on defense and rotating up to play as a forward for a shift.

Freshman Mikaela Zook. Photo by Masayo Satoh.

A close friend and teammate of Zook’s since middle school, Jaymee Bowers (Middlebury, Ind.) knows more about her more than anyone.

“It is a privilege to continue playing with her in college. Throughout these past years she has taught me many things, both on and off the field. She’s helped me better myself as a person as well as a player.”

The Larks’ next game is Friday, Oct. 3 vs. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami, Okla.) at 5 p.m.