Senior Luci Proctor has been a part of the varsity team since she was a freshman. Proctor brings a lot to the team with her positive attitude during all games win or lose. Proctor has had a great season so far already this season, she talks about what she is hoping to accomplish in her final season.
“We are hoping to end our season at Morrison this year. That has been our goal since the beginning of the year,” Proctor said. “Personally, I am just working on being the best teammate I can be when facing adversity and setbacks. I am also working on gaining more confidence and staying positive with all the challenges high school season brings.”
Head coach Nathan May has been a part of Proctor’s soccer career since she was a freshman and has watched her grow as a player, and will continue to help her grow in her final season. May talks about how he has seen Proctor grow over the 4 years.
“Luci has become a really great leader and a great character in the team. When she was younger and inexperienced she has always been competitive but as she’s grown up you can see her willingness to do extra for the team and express herself within the team,” May said.
Proctor has been a huge part of what makes the team. She brings energy to the field and is always reassuring her teammates. She is super close with each and every girl on the team. She talks about how she has gotten so close with the team and what it means to her.
“I have grown up playing with a lot of the seniors that are on the team, so I have been close with them for a long time. With the teammates I haven’t played club with, we are always doing things outside of practice and games to get close as a team, whether that is team dinners, sand volleyball, or just hanging out. We are always there for each other and are each other’s best friends during the season which helps when the season gets tough, ” Proctor said. “ Being close with the girls means everything to me. They have become my best friends and they are people who are always there for me. They check in on me constantly and encourage me when I am having a hard time. Spending every day of the past couple of months has been such a blessing and has gotten me through a lot of hard times.”
Coach May has seen Proctor interact with every girl on the team and watched her make the underclassman feel welcome. He talks about how Proctor leads the younger girls through each game.
“Luci is a vocal leader for sure and willing to shout at her teammates to keep the level high when the level is not what she expects it to be. She also is willing to lead by example and run and do the hard uncomfortable things for the sake of the team,” May said.
Proctor will not continue her soccer career at the next level but will be attending Mizzou to study speech, language, and hearing sciences. She talks about what Westside soccer has taught her that she can take with her throughout her life not just on the field.
“Westside Soccer has taught me to show up daily and work hard for those around me. It has taught me the importance of giving everything you do 100% and doing things even when it’s hard and you’re tired,” Proctor said. “It has also taught me the importance of working with a team and important things about leadership. It has taught me how to show up for others and support small steps of improvement they take.”
Coach May has tried to teach Procter lessons that she can take with her after high school. He talks about what he has learned from Proctor but also what he has tried to teach her.
“For Luci I think if she harnesses her emotions and her desire to do well she can succeed at whatever she tries to do. She’s a true warrior, plays with emotion and genuinely cares about her teammates and the results of what she’s doing. That will take her far, and we need people like her in the world,” May said.
Leaving her soccer career behind will be a challenge, Proctor talks about how she plans to adjust to her new schedule once her final season is over.
“I haven’t thought far past my schedule after soccer because I don’t want to think too much about leaving soccer behind quite yet. I plan on still staying active and incorporating soccer into my life still whether that is watching, supporting, or possibly coaching because soccer has done so much for me,” Proctor said.
Proctor’s positive energy brings a lot to the field. Coach May talks about what the team as a whole will miss the most about Proctor once she leaves Westside soccer behind.
“How she cares about other people, and the energy she gives to the group,” May said.
With being on the team all of high school Proctor has a lot of memories with Westside soccer. She talks about what her favorite memory with the team is.
“My favorite memory with the team is beating Elkhorn South in Metro Semi Finals last year. It was so cool to get an overtime win against a quality team with my best friends, ” Proctor said.
Proctor has contributed lots to this team and will be remembered for many years.
