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Why Gatorade Player Of The Year Kyla Ferry Supported PCA-Arizona

07.19.2018

In its 33rd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company named Kyla Ferry of Xavier College Prep (a partner of PCA-Arizona) as its 2017-18 Gatorade Arizona Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Ferry is the third Gatorade Arizona Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Xavier College Prep. 

The 5-foot-8 junior forward and midfielder led the Gators to a 15-3-2 record and the Conference 6A state championship this past season. Ferry scored 19 goals and passed for 12 assists. The 2018 Conference 6A Player of the Year, Ferry is a finalist for the Arizona Republic Player of the Year award. She concluded her junior year with 46 goals and 23 assists in her prep soccer career.

Ferry has volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit victims of domestic violence. She has also donated her time as a peer tutor and youth soccer coach. “Kyla Ferry was a force on the field all year,” said Mike Muto, head coach of Desert Mountain High. “She has the best eye for the goal, better than any other player.” Ferry has maintained a weighted 4.14 GPA in the classroom. She has made a verbal commitment to play soccer on scholarship at the University of Colorado beginning in the fall of 2019.

Kyla Ferry, pictured above, donated her $1,000 award to PCA-Arizona and explains why below:

I want to help change the culture of youth sports in Arizona. One of the benefits of being named the Gatorade Arizona Girls Soccer Player of the Year is that Gatorade will donate $1,000 to a charity of my choosing that helps youth access sport. I have chosen to support the Positive Coaching Alliance of Arizona (PCA).

My high school is just one of over 3,500 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide that have partnered with PCA to deliver live workshops and online courses to create a positive youth sports culture. I was shocked to learn that 70% of kids quit playing sports by the age of 13. PCA educates our community’s athletes through workshops, interactive discussions, team exercises, and inspirational videos all designed to teach character traits like confidence, honesty, humility, and teamwork.

Arizona currently ranks 49th out of all 50 states in education funding, and cannot afford to implement programs such as this. These programs are essential in the Character development of our communities athletes. I would like to thank Gatorade for their donation which will go towards funding some of the costs for PCA to continue their workshops at under-served schools and youth sports organizations throughout Arizona.


Xavier Prep celebrates this years state championship

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