Jillian Garcia shines as energy boost and emotional leader for West Ottawa soccer
Jillian Garcia isn't tough to find on the soccer field.
In fact, you will likely hear her before you see her.
The West Ottawa senior is the team energizer and emotional leader - something she has been for this giant senior class for a decade.
Whether it be words of encouragement or celebration - Garcia finds a way to pump up her teammates.
"It is not something that everyone always notices when everyone is running around, but you can hear Jillian pumping people up," fellow senior Brooke Pedersen said. "You can tell they appreciate someone doing that. It has a big impact on everyone's confidence overall."
More: West Ottawa soccer riding strong senior squad toward big finish after Purple Power win
And it makes every moment of practice and matches a little more fun, something Garcia has focused on during her high school career in soccer and volleyball. It doesn't hurt that she is a really good player, either - a power forward aiming for the goal with her strength, energy and aggressiveness.
"I try to get focused within the game, but I also want to make sure I am having fun. That is one of my top priorities. Sports can be really stressful and making it a fun environment is really important to me. I have always been that way," Garcia said. "Knowing that I am having fun really pushes me. If I get stressed out, it has a Domino effect. If I can make it fun for others, it will be fun for me."
While she has been this leader for years, it took on a new meaning as a senior.
"I guess I didn't really notice how much of a difference it made, but this past volleyball season really opened my eyes to it," she said.
But her teammates have noticed for years.
And with a big group of 14 seniors, the Panthers are looking for a big finish.
"The chemistry is just insane, it is so deep. Just connecting with each other and knowing what our strengths are - we can really use that to our advantage," Garcia said. "We are very capable of a lot of things. We have some great competitors and have a chance to go far in the playoffs."
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Jillian Garcia shines as energy boost for West Ottawa soccer
