At the beginning of the school year, the Buffalo Island Central soccer team was looking for a coach. In January 2019 the position was filled by Mrs. Natalie Stricklin, who teaches science at BIC.

“I knew the kids didn’t have a coach. I knew that our soccer program was struggling to get off the ground, and I thought I might be able to help.

It has been fun. I don’t think I realized how much I had missed coaching over the last seven years or how much work it is to coach as old as I am,” Stricklin said.

Coach Stricklin has helped our players grow and led the team to achieve several victories this season. Hopefully the skills that she has taught them and the bonds they have formed will lead them to win many more in the future.

“This group has been a very tight-knit group and I have enjoyed them. What they lack in skills they make up for with heart. I don’t think there is a group of kids anywhere that I would have enjoyed more! They usually work hard and it shows. They held their own with teams that were a lot more experienced. They have grown so much over the year, I look forward to seeing what next year brings for them!” said Stricklin.

The amount of effort that Stricklin has put into the team is admirable. We can’t wait to see the team improve and grow stronger in the next season.