Emma Weill-Jones (286)

Have you watched the Central girls soccer team play before? If so, you would know that the team is made up of committed Central students who dedicate themselves to rigorous practices, training, and competition on a weekly basis. The two incredible captains of the girls soccer team, Carly Gillespie (283) and Tessa Bensley (283), share an undeniable passion for soccer here at Central and have led the team to an undefeatable season last year.

Both Carly and Tessa have been active members of the team since their freshman year and are now spending their last year of highschool as captains together. Carly, a center-back, and Tessa, a center-mid, have found friendship, family, and love on the team aside from the actual soccer aspect. According to Tessa, “The team environment is by far the best aspect of soccer. I love being able to end every day playing with some of my best friends.” Being on the team not only comes with soccer, but also various team-building activities, gatherings, get-togethers, and more, all aimed at helping new players feel at home. The close and supportive network of girls makes the team feel less like any other after school commitment and more like a family. Both girls heavily emphasized that celebrating the team’s wins and successes is ten times better when you can do that with your teammates.

In terms of soccer, this team is on fire. The team has won three straight Public League Championships, which is a huge honor and accomplishment. Their winning streak, skill, and strategy is what makes them such a tough competitor to schools in and out of the Public League. If the team had to describe themselves in one word, it would be “dedicated.” However, both Carly and Tessa both believe that the girls’ soccer team should be given more recognition and credit for all of their hard work. 

With that being said, both girls highlighted how exciting it has been for them to mentor freshmen girls and help them elevate their soccer skills. Carly’s main piece of advice is, “As someone who was very nervous my first tryout, I’d advise them to work as hard as they can in everything we do at practice.” She reminisced on her similar experiences as a freshman and emphasized that from the moment she joined, the coach and team captains had always sought every player’s full effort and willingness to improve. 

Carly and Tessa’s journey on the team has not been easy, especially with them starting out during the peak of COVID-19. The unusual start to the year created an abundance of obstacles for them, and while it made everything challenging, they persevered. Especially with the pandemic and online school year, becoming new members of the team is more daunting. But what started out as the two girls playing highschool soccer as freshmen during a pandemic resulted in both of them becoming the captains of an award winning team. It’s safe to say that it all ended up working out in the end for both of them.