Aggression and leadership sit at the center of Kenzie Daniels’ approach as she enters her senior soccer season at Tahlequah High School. “My personal goal for this season is to be aggressive and be able to help the team as a captain this year,” Daniels said. That mindset has shaped how she prepares for each match and how she leads a roster that blends experience with emerging talent.
Team chemistry has been a point of optimism early on. “So far, the team morale is high we have a lot of talented underclassmen to add to the team, and this gives us a higher chance to win more games,” Daniels said.
For Daniels, the goals remain clear. “I would say that the biggest goal is to go to state this year and with the players that we have I feel as if we have a good chance to make it there,” she said. A major reason for that confidence is the influence on the sideline. “Our biggest strength right now is coach Moore; he has helped teach us things we might have never thought about and through our practice, you can definitely see the effects of his coaching.”
A four-year varsity starter, Daniels anchors the defense. “My position is center back,” she said.
Preparation is both mental and tactical. “When I prepare for a game, I normally look at film for the opposing team to see how they play and who is most aggressive offensive player is, but before the game I will listen to my music and make sure that I am mentally prepared to be aggressive,” Daniels said. Once the match begins, her focus can shift. “My mind set always differs for each game, it all just depends on who the other team is, but for the most part I think about how I need to be aggressive and be ready to take a hit,” she said.
Looking ahead, Daniels hopes her legacy is simple. “I want to be remembered for being myself, I would also like to be remembered by my soccer IQ,” she said.
Daniels also plays WSA soccer. She plans to play collegiately and pursue a career in physical therapy. “My parents and my brother have been the people who have impacted me the most.”
