Moses Lake athlete an inspiration
Jessie Green, 17, of Moses Lake, pauses during a match for the Spokane Shadows. The Shadows were league champions and finished second in the state
MOSES LAKE - Soccer has been 17-year-old Jessie Green's passion since she scored her first goal at the age of 4. Green, now a junior at Moses Lake High School, plays for one of the most prestigious soccer clubs in Washington, SSC Shadow Elite in Spokane.
Jessie's grandmother, Joan Green, described the Shadow as the crème de la crème of Eastern Washington.
Recently, the Shadow lost 2-1 in the state championship to a club from Seattle, but will be traveling the week of June 17 to the 2013 Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championship in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Jessie, who lives in Moses Lake, has to travel twice a week 228 miles round trip to Spokane to practice with her team for an hour and a half before turning around and heading home.
"She's really dedicated and Grandma's broke," Joan said with a laugh.
Sometimes Jessie finds it difficult to juggle the different parts of being a high school teenager.
"Usually the social aspect gets kicked out," Jessie said. "I don't really have much time."
Jessie has to do her homework in the car on the way to and from practice while trying to squeeze in some time for sleep.
On one occasion, Jessie's team traveled 528 miles round trip to play in Bellingham where they came away with the victory.
"I don't mind [traveling] anymore, but at first it was hard," Green said.
Jessie is a former member of CB United in Moses Lake coached by Jen Lee, the wife of Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee, and Nick Wallace.
Jen Lee runs the Endeavour Soccer Academy where Jessie volunteers and explained her presence as an older player shows the younger players what can be accomplished through hard work and dedication.
"She's the main reason I am where I am," Jessie said.
Jessie loves the competition of the game and her favorite part of soccer can be described in one word, "Winning."
The Shadow finished their season with a record of 17 wins and only 2 losses.
For four consecutive years Green has been a member of the Washington State Olympic Developmental Team, which is a collection of the top 25 players in her age group.
Jessie's current coach, Dan Philp, recently was offered a coaching position for the Spokane Shine so Jessie has had the opportunity to scrimmage against semi-pro soccer players.
"They're really big, but I try," Jessie said.
According to Philp, even though Jessie has to travel from Moses Lake she has only missed a couple training sessions throughout the entire year.
"We can always rely on her to be there," Philp said.
Philp also explained that Jessie's dedication to attending almost every training session has set a good example for her teammates who live much closer.
Jessie loves to play and tries to get out to the field as much as possible.
"This last weekend I played every single day," Jessie said.
Green, only a junior, plays ahead one year so all of her teammates on the Shadow except for one will be graduating and playing college soccer.
The lone teammate not continuing her soccer career is running track at Whitworth University.
Jessie plans on continuing her athletic career and education in college and is considering several schools including the University of Hawaii, the University of Oregon, Portland State University, Eastern Washington University, and Central Washington University.
Joan explained this upcoming tournament in Hawaii is a good opportunity for Jessie to gain exposure in front of college coaches.
Jessie has lived with her grandparents since she was in sixth grade and is a self-described "grandma's girl."
"When you're 70 and trying to raise a teenager it can get a little hairy at times," Joan said.
Jessie's uncle, Devon Hotchkiss, described Jessie has an inspiration to her younger siblings and cousins.
Hotchkiss explained that Jessie maintains excellent grades, volunteers in the community and does all the right things to reach her ultimate goal of playing collegiate athletics.
Jessie would be the first in her family to go to college and if she attends a Divison I university she will be the second girl from Moses Lake to play soccer at that level.
"She's a great role model for the younger kids," Hotchkiss said.
The trip to Hawaii is estimated to cost between $2,500 and $3,000 and the family would appreciate any kind of donation. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 56, Moses Lake, 98837, care of Jessie Green.