Ada High School junior Kennadee Bickerstaff was called a “phenomenal midfielder” and “huge leader on the soccer field” by her coaches.

“I started playing soccer when I was 4,” Bickerstaff said. “My mom played club when she was in high school and then she played in an adult league. She was my coach my first 4-5 years of playing. She taught me the basic fundamentals of soccer, and I learned to love the game as much as she did.

“Both of my parents are super competitive, so they’ve taught me to give everything out on the field and not give up.”

That’s not all she picked up from her parents. Her father introduced another sport to both Bickerstaff and her older sister.

“My dad grew up doing rodeo, so he’s the one that got me and my sister into it,” Bickerstaff said.

Taking care of her horses, she said, “is really a daily commitment.”

“As for practice, I try to ride my horses and tie goats several times a week to keep myself and my horses in shape. During rodeo season, we have rodeos at least every other weekend, so I stay pretty busy,” Bickerstaff said. “It is a challenge to get all the practice in for both, so I just try and practice rodeo on nights we don’t have [soccer] games and on the weeknights.”

To maintain it all, Bickerstaff centers her life with her faith.

“I believe that God has blessed me with many opportunities throughout my life, and no matter the outcome of anything in my life — soccer, rodeo, friendships and school, I know that if I continue to have faith, God’s plan for me will always work out,” Bickerstaff said.

The coaches, teachers and administration at Ada have helped Bickerstaff soar to new heights as an athlete and as a student.

“I’m just very thankful for the opportunities Ada has given me academically and thankful for my coaches that pour into us kids,” Bickerstaff said.

After high school, Bickerstaff plans to attend college. She has not decided on a major but is considering both nursing and elementary education.

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