Sarah Sollinger

Sarah Sollinger has been playing soccer since she was four years old, and she isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The soon-to-be ETHS graduate is heading to Denison University this fall, where she will continue playing with multiple other Evanston recruits, including classmate Tate Lucas.

“I knew I wanted to play in college, and Denison just kind of checked off all my boxes,” says ETHS co-captain Sollinger. “Everybody I met there was just so nice. It had such a good energy and I was like, ‘That’s where I need to be for the next four years.’”

There’s much to look forward to at a Division lll school, and Sollinger is ready to take on the challenges that a different level of education and athletics has to offer. She says that ETHS’ athletics programs adequately prepared her to balance her academics in college.

“[ETHS soccer has] taught me to balance my time and get things done when I know I have practice,” Sollinger explains, referring to the juggling act that is managing the equivalent of a part-time job while maintaining good grades and a healthy social life. “I’ve learned a lot of important skills.”

The Kits, including Sollinger, ended the 2020-2021 season with a loss in State Sectionals and are currently holding strong during their regular season. Sollinger credits the team’s victory with their incredible chemistry, as they “pretty much have a really similar group of people to last year. We’re more comfortable. We’re less on edge. We know what to expect.”

While she’s excited for the new experiences, Sollinger will miss the camaraderie of high school, and the energy of “your everyday fourth period math class.” She attests that what she is most reluctant to leave are her connections with people in Evanston, and the established friendships on ETHS’ team.

“I think that we’re really good this year,” Sollinger says. “And we can do really well. But I also think it’s just fun when we do it.”