It’s a well-known fact that the Benjamin Middle School is home to incredible students, many of whom are even better athletes. The school provides said students with opportunities to excel at their sports at the middle and high school levels. If someone is considered a “significant contributor,” they can play for the varsity team. 

     Fiona Foster, an eighth grader, lives and breathes soccer. She’s played the game across five teams since she was four. Foster plays for Prime FC, a soccer team in Sunrise, Florida. While the team is on a hiatus from daily practice, Foster is playing for the TBS varsity soccer team. Going into the tryouts, she was the immediate underdog because she was the only eighth grader. The team’s veterans saw Foster’s drive and skill almost immediately, as did the coach.

     Being a varsity athlete is a challenging job, especially at TBS. Practices take up a lot of time after school that could be used for doing schoolwork. Foster thinks it is hard to manage the demanding workload and schedule, but she found a balance. She says, “ I think that the sports at TBS are built knowing how hard the classes are. If I have a really busy week and miss an assignment, my teachers are super understanding.” The season is only halfway through, and Foster has proved herself a key asset to the team. She has scored four goals and collected four assists.

     According to Foster, connecting with her teammates in practice and on the field has helped her significantly. She finds it very important to learn how they play so that she can adjust herself accordingly. Senior Captain Lily White has played on the Benjamin team for her entire high school career, and she has bonded with Foster both on and off the field. White comments, “My first impression of Fiona was that she is a very skillful, good soccer player and I was happy that she wanted to play with us. I think her great foot skills and her accurate passing have really allowed our team to develop and provide a lot of goal-scoring opportunities.”

     Through thick and thin, Foster keeps her eyes on the prize: a state championship. A close friend of hers, Maria Golucki, says, “I’ve always known that Fiona is dedicated to her sport, but it has shown since she joined the varsity team” The soccer team made it to the state semi-finals last year, but they lost in a 2-1 game against Southern Nova University. With hopes for redemption, the team is working harder than ever to win the title. Only time will tell!