Face of the game – Hannah Brantley

Before the whistle blows, she is reciting facts for her government test. But as soon as the referee starts the game, her mind is honed in on one thing, winning. Her feet run to attack the ball and dribble past defenders before passing it to a fellow teammate and scoring the closing goal. Senior offensive midfielder, Hannah Brantley, rushes to the locker room while mentally calculating calculus problems for the following day.

The Lady Tigers concluded their season on April 3, in a heart wrenching 1-5 loss against the Mansfield Lake Ridge Lady Eagles. Although it was a bitter end to a great run, Brantley is pleased with how she ended her high school career.

“My senior year has definitely been my best year,” Brantley said. “The freshman girls were so much fun to play with and we really bonded as a team.”

In Brantley’s final season, she embraced the role of leadership. With a team composed mainly of freshmen, this was a major contribution to the team.

“I tried to contribute just as much off the field as I did on,” Brantley said. “I wanted to be a positive influence on the younger girls and make it fun for them. The right attitude can take you a long way.”

As a successful component in the classroom and on the field, Brantley is still unsure if she wants to continue her craft at the collegiate level.

“I have until May 1 to decide where I’m going to college,” Brantley. “I’m not quite sure where I’m going yet. If I go to Ouachita [Baptist] or Hendrix, I would play soccer. The University of Arkansas is in the picture too. I’ll major in pre-med wherever I go and focus highly on academics.”

After breaking two school records and playing three years of varsity soccer, Brantley has had a successful run and is grateful for the time she had.

“I love soccer so much and I’ll miss the competitive atmosphere and my teammates the most,” Brantley said. “It’s hard knowing soccer could be over forever, but I’ll never forget all the great memories I’ve made being a lady tiger.”