Tahlequah High School’s Zoey Farris
Tahlequah freshman midfielder Zoey Farris is already playing with the poise of a veteran, blending technical skill with a mentality shaped by more than a decade in the sport.
Farris, a freshman for the Lady Tigers, has been on the pitch since she was 3 years old and estimates she has played soccer for about 11 years. She said she draws motivation from athletes who have advanced to the next level, using their journeys as a blueprint for her own goals. One of her biggest influences is Lionel Messi, whose “first touch and decision-making skills are phenomenal,” traits she tries to mirror in her own game.
On the field for Tahlequah, Farris finds joy in creating chances for others. “I really enjoy working on the field to create opportunities for my teammates and getting the ball up the field to score,” she said. “I love playing soccer with my friends.” She believes midfield is the toughest position because it demands quickness, foot skills and fast decision-making, combining “all aspects of athleticism into one position.”
Athletics, she said, has already taught her lessons that extend beyond soccer. “Athletics has taught me to never give up,” Farris said. “Athletics gives you roadblocks just like life does. You must keep pushing past all of the roadblocks to get to the goal you set for yourself. Even when things get hard, you keep going.”
Away from the field, Farris is as driven in the classroom and her personal interests as she is in soccer. English is her favorite subject, and she points to honors English teacher Mr. Pinion for making learning enjoyable through conversation, reading and debate. An avid reader, she has set a goal to read 80 books by the end of the year and is already on pace with 16 completed.
Farris credits club coaches Todd Pemberton and Kyle Roberts for shaping her game, from fundamentals to toughness and aggression, and their influence shows in how she approaches every touch, every decision and every challenge for Tahlequah.
