Rising Hobbton senior Maggie Langston is excited and prepared to begin her senior year. The 17-year-old is an athletic soccer player and cheerleader, and she has had a deep connection with each sport since she began playing them a couple of years ago.

Langston plays striker for the Wildcats, and enjoys doing so. Soccer was not something she had her eyes set on for a while, though, but started playing it in the eighth grade to challenge herself at doing something she had never tried before.

“It was honestly a spontaneous decision to play soccer,” Langston said.

Alex Morgan, who is a professional soccer player, is her inspiration, and she claims that watching Morgan makes her want to be better. Her coach at the time, Damon Burnett, assisted her in learning the game of soccer. Burnett was very patient with her as she studied the game, allowing her plenty of time to take the new sport in. Langston credits Burnett as the main person that helped get her feet wet with the game of soccer.

Langston began cheerleading because she has always appreciated nearly every aspect of it, but didn’t officially become a cheerleader until seventh grade. Unsurprisingly, she has shown no signs of stopping. Although there were various aspects to cheerleading that factored into her decision to become one, her main reason was because she liked being a part of a group.

“Really I just enjoy being part of a group whose primary goal is to support their school.” Langston said.

Langston already has college in mind, with plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to major in business and hopefully start her own business one day. Starting her own business would be her ultimate achievement, she said, but added that she understands that reaching that goal will take a lot of time and energy.

Langston prides herself in performing just as well the classroom, boasting a 4.4 GPA. This impressive GPA, however, is very hard to maintain, said Langston, and she believes that her biggest accomplishment has been maintaining that all while spending time with her friends and playing sports that require a lot of attention and time.

In her off-time from sports, Langston is relatively laid back. She puts her relationship with God at the top of her list, and enjoys going to church. In fact, she stated that the best advice she has ever been given is to understand that everything happens for a reason and to praise God nevertheless, despite what may have happened.

Additionally, she likes hanging out with her friends on the very little off-time she has.

“Honestly, I don’t have a lot of off-time,” she noted, “because cheering and soccer take up a lot of that time.”

Langston credits her coaches, in particular current soccer coaches Jonathan Jacobs and Jose Gallegos, and thanks them for helping her take her game to the next level.

“They are absolutely incredible and know exactly what they are doing,” Langston stated.

Her coaches, she said, will tell her the honest truth, even if it may not be what she wants to hear, if they know it will better her in the long run, and she appreciates that. She consistently keeps in touch with them and will do anything and everything they tell her to do that could improve her game.

“I take every bit of advice they give me and put that advice to use,” Langston said, additionally thanking her teammates for pushing her to be the best she can possibly be.

Langston is also very quick to thank her parents and credit them for being with her every step of the way and supporting her, no matter the circumstance.

Langston enjoys cheering on her team during a basketball game.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Langston-2.jpgLangston enjoys cheering on her team during a basketball game.

Maggie Langston dribbles the ball upfield during a soccer match.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Langston-1.jpgMaggie Langston dribbles the ball upfield during a soccer match.
Langston puts in work to excel in school, athletics

By Adam Johnson

Sports Writer