Three Cheers For Caroline Murray

Hi Coach Walker,

I thought you might like some additional information and insight into a recruit of yours who plans to attend Ohio State in the fall of 2011.

Sorry I can't include a still photo of Rams rising senior Caroline Murray, it's because she's never still—at least on the soccer field and track. And even if I come up with one, I may selfishly keep it since it could be a collector's item one day.

Caroline will be donning Ohio State colors in a couple of years, putting on the scarlet and gray after four years in NCHS' signature red and black. Pretty simple transition as far as changing colors, don't you think? 

After watching her perform over a full soccer season, here are some observations you may want to note:

Caroline's motor rarely turns off. It's all part of her personality and work ethic. She's a throwback to an era when dedicated athletes believed when you're not practicing, someone else is. And when you meet that person on the field, they will win.

Coach, you're too young to remember, but Caroline reminds me of a former Buckeye athlete, John Havlicek. He was a basketball standout on the 1960 NCAA Championship team and then went on to an outstanding career with the Boston Celtics. Much like Caroline, John Havlicek never stood still. Always moving, he never seemed to need a timeout or even a moment to draw an extra breath. Both athletes have demonstrated unusual stamina to say the least.

Just to give you an example, there was a sequence during a game last season when Caroline sprinted with the ball almost the length of the field. Being the generous player she is, Caroline passed the ball to a teammate who in turn lost it. Without hesitation, Caroline then sprinted back to play defense, where she intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field again, each time in full sprint.

A whistle finally ended the sequence and all the players hunched over with their hands on their knees, gasping for breath. Except for Caroline, who had barely drawn a breath—she was ready to keep running. Caroline attributes her conditioning to her brother, a lacrosse player at Dickinson College, who pushes her in the physical fitness department.

At 5-foot-5-inches, 110 pounds, Caroline has more a body type for track—where she also excels—than for soccer. If you would be kind enough to pass this memo on to Women's Track Coach Karen Davis to let her know she'll be getting a runner who finished second in the conference in the mile run at five minutes, eight seconds, and second in the state championships at 5:09.

But soccer is her first love. Murray was the points leader last season for the Rams with 25 points on nine goals and seven assists. Yet, she's always looking to improve her game. You'll be pleased to know that if there's a summer soccer camp, Caroline will probably be there. She averages five camps per summer and says, "I always take away something from each one."

In this era of specialization, she's looking for a "Heading Camp" where she hopes to improve her heading game. She also admits she needs work in dribbling without having to look at the ball. There's certainly something to be said for modesty.

One more note though before I sign off:

I was driving home during a rainstorm a few months ago when, on the deserted streets, I spotted a runner in full rain gear picking 'em up and laying 'em down. She was the only one out there. I don't really have to tell you who it was, do I?

Three Cheers for Caroline Murray.

Sincerely,

Bob Goldsholl